2 posts tagged “disaster recovery”

Keeping your stored business records accessible and organized is a necessity for efficient business processes. If records management is not done competently, it leaves your company vulnerable to risk and decreased productivity. A business needs to have a records management solution that has records controlled with an easily updated online system and tracking capabilities. Good communication with a professional vendor also adds to successful records management solutions.

There are recommendations on how to keep records inventory healthy including using an online, updateable inventory management system, and creating a retention schedule that can be controlled by the system. The schedule is used for the management of on site and off site records. Records should be moved and disposed of according to the schedule, and keeping the records management system structured is mandatory for the system to work. The retention schedule can be automatically calculated to assure compliance with regulatory mandates.

The on site and off site inventory should be checked periodically online. If boxes are currently in stock, find out where they were last tracked to allow for search capabilities of every box and file in the system. Tracking the movement of every box is important to the safety and proper storage of your records, and the location information should also be accessible to you, the client. Verification of destroyed records is the next step in your inventory check.

Your records storage management vendor should actively improve their records management system. Choose a professional vendor with online custom systems available that can be managed from your desktop. Having electronic access also has the convenience for the user to order storage supplies and arrange for delivery and pick up from the vendor. There must be active participation during the process with your vendor, and it is important to read contracts and communications from the vendor in reference to services and fees.

There are many companies providing records management, office records storage, document destruction, and paper shredding, data back up, and media storage. They offer Recordslink, which is a comprehensive, customized web technology allowing the management of records storage from a desktop.

Records Management

Natural disasters, litigation, and computer failure are a few of the reasons to have records storage procedures done professionally to prevent mistakes. A records management service organizes, classifies, archives, preserves, and purges physical files and electronic information. A records management service stores documents and data safely, allows for their access, provides specialized storage, and can destroy them properly when they are no longer needed.

If a company stores and manages their records in house, it is expensive and not secure for information, and mistakes can be made. Paper records, including highly confidential documents, need to be managed, organized, and stored securely off site. Some businesses choose a self storage facility for off site storage. This is not a secure place for company history! A records management service uses alarm systems to safely keep records in a facility that also protects from fire, rodents, and other risks.

Keep Records Accessible

Information sometimes needs to be retrieved by companies immediately, and it needs to be accessible. Not only does a records management service get the physical files off site to avoid taking up valuable space, but their system allows for access to specific information when needed. Having access to needed information helps protect a company legally, helps meet compliance with regulatory obligations, and increases efficiency.

Data Backup

The amount of data that needs to be digitally stored is overwhelming for a business. This data needs to be backed up and stored consistently while also allowing for easy access. A records management service can facilitate the data back up and safely store it, and allow for easy recovery.

A records management service offers off site and highly secure storage of media. Sometimes specialized storage of items is needed for things such as tapes, discs and CD ROMs, and a records management company has the facilities to store them appropriately. The information is not only safeguarded, but it is easily recovered.

Privacy, data protection, and identity theft are important current issues for records management, so paper shredding and document destruction are crucial for protecting your company from making mistakes. Not only criminals could be looking through trash or unsecured storage for confidential information, but competitors and the news media. The information should be destroyed thoroughly so confidentiality is not compromised.

Grace Enderline is a freelance writer working with Retrievex. Retrievex offers records storage, data backup, document destruction, and media storage services securing documents preventing costly mistakes.