08 Apr 2009

Secure data management 'a necessity'

The effective management of electronic records is essential to avoid loss or other dangers, a specialist claims.

More companies are now becoming wise to the risks and implications associated with incorrectly handling data, but more needs to be done, says Doug Miles, managing director of the UK division of the Enterprise Content Management association.

He claims that, in the event of legal proceedings, a court may need immediate access to information, which highlights the need for neat and secure storage of details.

"If companies aren't keeping that stuff securely, soundly and retrievably, they can get into deep trouble and are more likely to lose a case than win it," Mr Miles comments.

Storing information on a mixture of local drives, network drives, email systems, and back-up tapes may result in confusion and even loss or theft, the expert concludes.

According to Gartner's Five Tactical Actions for Content Management in 2009, by Barb Mosher, improving enterprise workforce effectiveness is currently the key priority for chief information officers.