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New Horizons in Records Management. New York Association of Local Government Records Officers Hunter, New York 12 June 2007. Geof Huth and David Lowry New York State Archives www.archives.nysed.gov. E-Mail. The continuing challenge. Issues . Few records management controls
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New Horizons in Records Management New York Association of Local Government Records Officers Hunter, New York 12 June 2007 Geof Huth and David Lowry New York State Archives www.archives.nysed.gov
E-Mail The continuing challenge
Issues • Few records management controls • Volume vs value • Individuals manage corporate resources • Difficult to destroy and preserve • Records lost • Inaccessibility of email records • Legal liabilities • Costs of all of the above
What We Must Do with E-mail • Classify • File • Store • Retrieve • Read • Distribute • Destroy • Protect • Preserve
Developing Solutions • Understand your needs • Classification systems • Retention controls • Semi-automated destruction • Complex retrieval • Understand your culture • Likelihood of compliance • Identify current standard practices • Need for training • Understand limitations
Develop an Integrated Solution • Integrate software products • Guide your program via policy • Set standards for e-mail management • Train your staff • Monitor compliance • Monitor developments • Merge IT and RM
Software Solutions • ECM • OpenText www.opentext.com • Stellent www.stellent.com • Tower Software www.towersoft.com • E-mail management • KANA Software www.kana.com • Zantaz www.zantaz.com • Full-Text Search • ISYS www.isys-search.com • X1 Technologies www.x1.com • ZyLAB www.zylab.com
Instant Messaging Another communications challenge for records management
Instant Messaging • E-communication in real time • Need similar software to communicate • Exchange different types of files • Images • Audio • Text
Good RM Practices for IM • Files can be saved in ECMs • Use same retention as email • Transfer info quickly from remote locations • People are used to using it
RM Drawbacks to IM • IMs rarely recognized as records • Transient nature of IM • Possible security risks • Dependence on proprietary software
IM and Traditional RM • Develop written policies and procedures • Set up systems to automatically save IMs • Control use of instant messaging
Resources • The National Archives’ FAQs on IM • www.archives.gov/records-mgmt/initiatives/im-faq.html • E-Policy Institute “32 IM Rules to Keep You in Business and Out of Court” • www.epolicyinstitute.com/imr/32rules.pdf • Why IM Management? • www.epolicyinstitute.com/imr/intro.pdf
Portable Document Format / Archive (PDF/A) A preservation format for electronic documents
Portable Document Format • File format developed by Adobe • Saves text and images • Captures look and feel of documents • Requires special readers to view it • Based on public specifications
The PDF/A Standard • ISO 19005-1, Document management—Electronic document file format for long-term preservation—Part 1: Use of PDF 1.4 (PDF/A-1) • A published digital preservation format • Development began in 2003 • Standard released in 2005
PDF’s Advantages • Accessible across computing platforms • Saves look and feel of original • Supports electronic text • Allows extraction of text from file • Based on standards and universal • Provides authenticity controls • Can support robust metadata
General Features of PDF/A • Standard owned by ISO • Specifies limited stable set of features • For any printable digital file • To ensure long-term validity • Eliminate features that are not “archival” • An open preservation standard
Required in PDF/A • Embedding of all fonts • Unrestricted legal use of embedded fonts • Device-independent color • Certain metadata describing the file • File must identify its PDF/A version
Excluded from PDF/A • Audio and video • JavaScript and other executable files • File encryption • LZW compression • Any reference to outside content • Transparency in the file • Any embedded files
Best Uses for PDF/A • Textual documents • Paper documents • Word-processing and non-PDF/A PDFs • Sets of related digital images • Documents where appearance is important • Static documents
Less Appropriate for PDF/A • Websites • Databases • Spreadsheets • Dynamic documents of any kind
Ways to Create a PDF/A • Use a plug-in inside other products • Print to PDF • Convert documents individually or use batch processing • Convert electronic documents • Scan and OCR paper documents
Tools to Create PDF/As • Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional (www.adobe.com) • Apago (www.apagoinc.com) • Callas (www.callassoftware.com) • Compart (www.compart.net) • PDFlib (www.pdflib.com) • PDF Tools AG (www.pdf-tools.com)
PDF/A-1 Validation Tools • Adobe Acrobat Preflight Function (www.adobe.com) • Apago PDF Appraiser (www.apagoinc.com) • Callas Software pdfaPilot (www.callassoftware.com) • PDF Tools AG's 3-Heights PDF Validator (www.pdf-tools.com/)
PDF/A Alone is Not Preservation • Must use PDF/A in conjunction with • Reproducing original accurately • Conducting quality control • Retaining the original electronic document • Using suitable storage media • Storing in appropriate environments • Refreshing media regularly • Backing up records regularly • Handling records properly • Monitoring other preservation developments
PDF/A Resources • PDF/A (http://aiim.org/standards.asp?ID=25013) • PDF Reference 1.4 (aiim.org/documents/standards/PDFreference.pdf) • Extensible Metadata Protocol (aiim.org/documents/standards/xmpspecification.pdf) • Non-Adobe PDF Resources (http://www.planetpdf.com/)
Electronic Vaulting Improved access and protection for e-records
E-vaulting • Electronic transfer of e-records offsite • Use of a commercial vendor or other storage facility • Secure storage • Retrieval can be 365/24/7
How does e-vaulting work? • Contract with a vendor • Vendor installs software • Software backs up data automatically • Backups are incremental
Challenges of E-Vault Development • Handle large-volume data movements • Manage simultaneous multi-party processing and digital security • Create storage architecture more efficient than standard data compression
Shortcomings of Normal Backup • Fail to fully restore data • Slow speed of backup • Inability to audit backup • Backup data is not immediately offsite • Infrequent verification of backup data • Lack of data encryption • Changing tape formats
Advantage of E-Vaulting • Shorter backup times • Central control • Data is immediately offsite • Security • 24x7 access to data for recovery • Labor productivity • System independent format
Electronic Content Management Controlling electronic documents
Electronic Content Management • Documents stored in enormous database • Central platform for managing content • Manages records in many formats • Uses common standards and rules
Advantages for Records Managers • Control growth of paper records • Ensure regulatory compliance • Provide litigation support • Safeguard vital information • Manage electronic archives
Advantages for Everyone • Reduce operating costs • Improvements in • Efficiency and productivity • Decision making • Customer service • Foster professional business management
Problems with an ECM • Expensive • Strong IT support needed • Significant training required • Large cultural change • Process changes
ECM Does Not • Preserve information • Ensure accuracy of document content • Migrate electronic data
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tracking records with radio signals
How Does RFID Work? • RFID system: Tag, Reader, Software • Information embedded into tag • Data transmitted over different frequencies • Variety of systems and components • UHF v HF • Passive v Active • Open Loop v Close Loop
Applications • Asset management: Presence of item • Tracking: Location of item • Authenticity verification: Source of item • Process control • Access control: Authenticate person • Automated payment: Financial transaction
Records Management Applications • Track boxes, folders or documents • Associate documents with folders & boxes • Track active and inactive records • “Upgrades” barcode system
RFID Advantages for Records Management • “Contactless” communication • Reduces search time • Streamlines check-out and check-in • Eliminates lost files • Creates instant inventory
RFID Challenges • “Noise” • Limitations for inactive records centers • Current software may not support ot • Costs • “Big Brother Syndrome”
Implementation • Needs assessment & cost benefit analysis • Consider long-term needs • Onsite demo a must • Phased approach is best • Look for scalability
Summary • Emerging technology • Application for RIM already a reality • Perform careful cost-benefit analysis
For More Information • 3M • www.3m.com/smartid • Infolinx Document Management • www.infolinx.com • Thoroughbred Technologies • www.tbredtech.com • Checkpoint Systems • www.checkpointsystems.com/rfid
Wikis and Blogs A new web-based records challenge