Future Proof – Protecting our digital future

Today the Australasian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative (ADRI) issued a media release regarding a new statement on managing the recordkeeping risks associated with the adoption of cloud computing solutions. State Records is a member of ADRI and was the lead agency on the development of this statement.  The full text of the release is included below:

MEDIA RELEASE

6 August 2010
Clouds Clear for Computing Risks

The Australasian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative (ADRI) has today launched a new product to assist in managing risks in an emerging technological environment and help protect the integrity of official records. It is a set of guidelines that provide Advice on managing the recordkeeping risks associated with cloud computing.

Cloud computing is an increasingly common business practice, which provides new opportunities and challenges for storing digital records. Often cloud computing is an internet service where data is stored by a service provider which may be outside of Australia and New Zealand territory borders.

In addition to offering substantial cost savings, it can reduce the pressure on ICT departments to provide ever increasing storage capacity. However there can also be risks associated with the use of cloud computing services where they are used to manage official government information.

The new guidelines released by ADRI are a list of practical measures to advise how government organisations can best utilise this emerging technology.

It provides a checklist for organisations to determine which records could be kept using cloud computing applications. It details the potential risks that need to be considered, and offers a list of useful contractual arrangements, as well as questions to ask of internet service providers.

By clarifying the what how and why, these guidelines allow government organisations to maintain the integrity of their recordkeeping and fully benefit from the advantages of cloud computing.

This new product is the latest of many initiatives to come out of the Australasian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative (ADRI). The initiative, which began in 2004, pools the resources of archivists across Australia and New Zealand to capitalise on new digital opportunities for recordkeeping.

Advice on managing the recordkeeping risks associated with cloud computing can be downloaded in the Products section

For further information, please contact:

Justine Heazlewood
Convenor, Australasian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative
T 03 9348 5602 | M 0413 733 299 | F 03 9348 5656
justine.heazlewood@prov.vic.gov.au