TS ISO 15489-1

TS ISO 15489-1 is the first part of the records management standard and sets out the concepts and principles that form the basis for how records are created, captured and managed. It provides the conceptual foundation for handling records in paper or digital form so that they remain reliable, accessible and meaningful as evidence over time.

How records management concepts fit together

In general technical practice, records management is more than storing files. It concerns how records are made part of business activity, arranged, controlled, retained and protected so they can support evidence, accountability and organisational memory. The concepts addressed by this part help align the meanings of terms such as record, creation, capture and management, so that records programmes and related archival or compliance functions are built on the same foundation.

Principles as a general technical framework

From a broader information-management perspective, records are valued because they document an action, decision or transaction. That is why qualities such as authenticity, integrity, usability and reliability matter. This part of ISO 15489 does not specify one software product or a single mandatory workflow; instead, it establishes the principles that guide records management across different organisational settings. It supports organisations in designing systems that fit their legal, regulatory and operational needs.

• Defines the core concepts used for creating, capturing and managing records.
• Provides a common conceptual basis for records management practice.
• Supports organisational needs for control, access and continuity across physical and electronic records.