TS ISO 13008

TS ISO 13008 is a standard in information and documentation focused on the conversion and migration of digital records. It addresses how electronic records should be handled when systems change, platforms are replaced, or content is moved so that their evidential value and usable meaning are preserved.

The standard specifies planning issues, requirements and procedures for the conversion and/or migration of digital records in order to preserve their authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability as evidence of business functions, processes, activities and transactions. In practical terms, the key distinction is that the record must remain more than a copied file: its context, structure and relationships must continue to support its evidential role.

What conversion and migration mean in records management

In general technical usage, conversion refers to changing a record from one format or structure to another while retaining readability and meaning. Migration usually refers to moving records between systems, storage environments or applications. For digital records, these processes are broader than file transfer alone because metadata, links and validation characteristics may also need to remain intact.

The document explicitly does not comprehensively cover backup systems, preservation of digital records, the functionality of trusted digital repositories, or the process of converting analogue formats to digital formats and vice versa. That boundary helps define this standard as one concerned specifically with conversion and migration rather than with every aspect of digital preservation or digitization.

• Handling digital records as evidence of business activity
• Planning issues, requirements and procedures for conversion and migration
• Preserving authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability
• Separating out related but out-of-scope preservation and backup topics