Subscribe

A Publication of WTVP

In today’s business environment, the protection of information has become more and more vital. Many organizations have the need to protect both the proprietary information of their company as well as the sensitive information pertaining to their customers. As the number of laws governing records management continues to increase, it becomes more important for these organizations to create a records management program, a collection of policies and best practices which covers the management of its records.

A compliant records management program is necessary for organizations to proactively and progressively store, manage and protect all of your records, media and electronic data. Organizations need to demonstrate “good faith” intentions to follow these best practices consistently and accurately.

Where do you begin when establishing your organization’s records management program? The first step is to identify a leadership or steering committee. This committee should be created with representation from all departments and the support of senior management. This committee should create a plan which addresses the following best practice areas:

No matter how simple or complex your compliant records management is, the most important aspect is consistency. Do your best to keep your program simple. Your records management program will be judged by the consistency of its implementation, not the details of the program’s design. The benefits of such a major investment will be short-lived if employees are not in compliance with the programs and its policies. IBI