Current state of play: records management and the cloud

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the current environment of, and challenges for, managing and storing records and information in “the cloud”.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach was based on the authors' experience of the challenges facing records management gained through the authors' interaction with public and private organisations. Observations of the way the web has changed the conduct of business and what using “the cloud” to store information means for records management. Included is some practical advice on how records managers can cope with the risk associated from using “the cloud”.

Findings

The key findings highlight that as organisations are changing the way they conduct business by including “web 2.0” and “the cloud” into their way of working, records management needs to be aware of the risks. The incorporation of “the cloud” into the way organisations conduct business, should not be based on a technological decision, but should be based on a decision examining risk to an organisation's information.

Originality/value

This paper is beneficial in raising awareness of the potential risks and benefits associated with managing and storing information online, specifically in “the cloud”. However, this paper aims to not dissaude organisations in their use of web technologies, but to emphasise the involvement needed by records managers in the formation of policies, education and risk analysis for any system or space designed to manage or store information and records.

Citation

Stuart, K. and Bromage, D. (2010), "Current state of play: records management and the cloud", Records Management Journal, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/09565691011064340