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pril is Record and Information Management Month
It is nearly over, but you may still be unaware of what an important month this is. That is why we are here as your IT support vendor. The month of April is Record and Information Management month. It may seem unimportant in times like these, but it certainly is and it might even be more important now than ever before.
Why Is It So Important?
In our current climate, it is important that records are kept cleanly, that back-ups are being created and rotated and that information is distributed successfully to others so that they can avoid the increased amount of scams going out related to the virus (see previous issues of Tech Talk News on our website for more in-depth information on that).
The theme also allows a reason for all organizations to revisit (or potentially create) policies such as your email and document retention policies. With the increase in downtime for many organizations, it may be an ideal time to be able to establish these rules.
For many organizations like those in government, healthcare, or finances there are laws, rules, and guidelines that dictate what, how, and how long information can be stored. Anything from personal information and videos to simple email communication could become the subject of an issue.
Certainly, the laws will have clear restrictions to follow, but there will be times when there is not a clear line drawn already - and that may not just affect those who store sensitive information.
For example, simply deleting email communications could result in a major issue. Say an issue is brought up via email and, at some point, legal action is pursued. The lawyer will almost certainly demand to see the emails and, if they are deleted, there will be a major headline coming. The deleted communications may not even affect the legal action, but it will more than likely turn the court of public opinion against you. This is why it is important to have policies in place that can be pointed to as being followed.
While the example pertains to emails, there can be similar issues with almost any type of file or communication and a policy in place can help prevent any such issues from becoming larger. It might also be a good idea to have backup solutions in place for things like your email account to fall back on in the event they are needed.
The month may almost be over, but the message is important and there is no reason that it cannot be carried into the future as well.
As always, we here at Ridge Support are happy to help you with all your IT needs. If you have any questions or are looking to learn more, please feel free to call into our office. Have a happy
Record and Information Management month!
