Sharing the drive January 25, 2011
Storing electronic information in shared (network) drives can be convenient and easy for staff and can enable the sharing and backup of documents.
However, if they are not managed well, shared drives can cause you a number of problems. For example, if you do not set up and maintain rigorous folder structures and titling controls, it is likely that the sharing of documents will be impeded.
In addition, shared drives cannot operate effectively as recordkeeping systems. In short: you cannot rely on records that have been stored on shared drives to provide reliable evidence of your activities.
State Records has recently released Recordkeeping in Brief 57: Managing shared drives that discusses how you can maximise the use and value of shared drives while ensuring that records are protected as essential evidence of business.
The guidance includes a link to Sample procedures for staff which explains to staff members how they should be managing their shared drives. It can be modified to reflect an organisation’s unique situation and business practices.
I found it a little strange that they did not cover or touch on backing up shared network devices. Or was this covered in another section?
Hi Brad
Thanks for your comment. I guess our focus with this advice was on how you could keep shared drives in some sort of order and manage the ever increasing volumes of stuff that accumulate on them. Also to try to explain their relationship with recordkeeping systems. Back up and other disaster recovery methods weren’t in scope for this advice. That said, of course if you want your information available and useable at all times, it’s an important safeguard to take!
Cheers
Cassie