ISO 23081-1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Information and documentation — Records management processes — Metadata for records — Part 1: Principles. This international standard defines the principles that underpin and govern metadata for records, and explains how those principles apply to records, the processes that affect them, the systems in which they reside, and the organizations responsible for their management.

Abstract

ISO 23081-1:2017 sets out high-level, principles-based guidance for metadata used to manage and preserve records as reliable evidence of business activities. It addresses the purpose and role of records metadata, the need for metadata to support authenticity, integrity, usability and provenance, and the responsibilities and governance arrangements required to sustain metadata over time. The standard is intended to be technology-neutral and to align metadata requirements with core records management concepts.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed international standard).
• Publication date: 31 October 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 01.140.20 (Information sciences / Records management).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2017).
• Number of pages: 21 pages.

References:

Scope

ISO 23081-1:2017 covers the principles that underpin and govern records management metadata. Those principles apply to records and their metadata, all processes that affect them, any system in which they reside, and any organization responsible for their management. The document is principles-based and intended to be applicable across different record types, systems and jurisdictions.

Key topics and requirements

• Principles for records metadata: purpose, responsibilities, and governance for creating and maintaining metadata that supports records as evidence.
• Metadata characteristics required to support authenticity, integrity, reliability, usability and provenance over time.
• Applicability across records, processes, systems and organizations — technology-neutral guidance for metadata design and management.
• Linkage to core records management concepts and standards (e.g., aligning metadata requirements to ISO 15489 principles).
• High-level roles and responsibilities, and governance arrangements needed to ensure metadata survives changes in systems and business processes.
• Reference to implementation and conceptual models provided in other parts of the ISO 23081 series (practical implementation guidance is covered in later parts).

Typical use and users

Intended users include records managers, archivists, information governance and compliance officers, digital preservation specialists, enterprise content management architects, IT/system vendors and policy-makers. Organizations use the standard to define metadata principles, set governance frameworks, inform procurement and system requirements, and align metadata practices with records management obligations.

Related standards

ISO 23081-1 is part of the ISO 23081 series on metadata for records. Related publications include ISO 23081-2 (conceptual and implementation issues; practical guidance) and ISO/TR 23081-3 (self-assessment). It is aligned with and intended to complement ISO 15489-1 (Records management — Concepts and principles). ISO 23081-1:2017 replaces the earlier ISO 23081-1:2006 edition.

Keywords

records management, metadata, metadata for records, information governance, authenticity, integrity, provenance, digital preservation, ISO 23081, ISO 15489, metadata governance

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 23081-1:2017 is the first part of the ISO 23081 series; a principles-based international standard that defines the foundational principles for metadata used to manage records.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers high-level principles for the purpose, creation, management and governance of metadata for records so that records remain usable and trustworthy as evidence across time, systems and organizational change. It does not prescribe a specific metadata schema or technology.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Records managers, archivists, information governance and compliance professionals, system architects and vendors, and anyone responsible for specifying or managing metadata for records.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 23081-1:2017 is the current edition (published October 2017) and supersedes ISO 23081-1:2006. The standard has been confirmed as current in ISO's review process. Users should check national/adoption notices for the latest confirmation dates in their jurisdiction.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 (Principles) of the ISO 23081 series. Part 2 provides conceptual and implementation guidance and there is a Part 3 technical report/self-assessment — together they provide both principles and practical material for metadata for records.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Records metadata, metadata governance, authenticity, integrity, provenance, information governance, records management, ISO 23081, ISO 15489.