Digital Business Platforms
Records Management
Core is a leading provider of Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online records management solutions.
Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online now include some seriously powerful Records Management (RM) features, making M365 one of the world’s leading RM solutions. And, best of all, it’s integrated with the tools and apps your team uses every day.
Records Management shouldn’t be an add-on or an extra task your staff have to remember to carry out. It should be part of your team’s way of working, and built into the platform you use to get work done. Until now, many organisations have relied on legacy systems like Meridio to achieve this. The team at Core will help your organisation make the move to modern Microsoft 365 Records Management.
What is Records Management?
Information is valuable, and organisations like yours rightly treat it as a vital asset. Pieces of important information can, and must, be frozen in time in order that they remain available and unchanged for legal reasons. These are called ‘records’. A record can be anything – a file, a conversation, a user’s details, an email. Records Management is the retention, management and deletion of those pieces of information.
Why is Records Management important?
Organisations must have a foolproof way of creating, managing and deleting records, because laws such as the Public Records Act and GDPR specifically call for it. For example, some public sector organisations are legally bound to keep certain types of data for 7 years. Equally, an organisation may have good reasons not to retain records once that legal period has ended. Information that doesn’t need to be retained should be destroyed once its legal retention period (the time it must be kept) has ended.
Can Microsoft 365 do records management?
The great news is that Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online now offers a fully-featured records management solution, built right into the platforms your team uses every day. You no longer have to worry about records management – it’s all taken care of by M365 policies.
What you can do with Microsoft 365 Records Management
Microsoft 365 E5 licences give you a fully-featured records management solution. If you are currently licensed with Microsoft 365 E3, you can also purchase the Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance add-on to gain these features at a fraction of the cost.Configure retention labels to mark different types of content as records. These retention labels can be applied directly by users, or programatically when M365 detects sensitive information, specific keywords or particular types of content.
Retention labels can be set up to enforce retention periods and automatically take other actions based on factors like the date a file was created.
Event-based retention means you can kick off retention periods automatically when a specific event takes place. This further automates the records management process, ensuring total compliance every time.
Disposition reviews allow you to review and carry out records disposition, with proof that records have been deleted.
Retain information about deleted records using the export function to prepare a report about what was deleted.
Ensure everyone has the right access by setting granular permissions for staff who require records management capabilities.
Declaring a piece of information as a record in Microsoft 365 means several things can happen:
- Microsoft 365 immediately restricts what can be done with the information, based on the policies you set up. For example, you may no longer be able to delete a file until the retention period is up.
- Logging of actions taken on the information begins. The platform automatically records what happened to the data from the moment it became a record.
- When an item is deleted (known as disposition), the system can retain information to prove it was deleted.
Using Microsoft 365 to declare records usin retention labels lets you put in place one consistent strategy for ensuring records across your business are being managed in line with internal policies, industry standards, and statutory, legal and fiscal requirements.
Why is Records Management important for my organisation?
Organisations are producing more data than ever. Due to stringent regulations around how that data is managed, it is business-critical that correct records management practices are being followed. The information could be needed as part of a routine audit, or in a situation such as a police investigation; if that information is not available, your organisation can face significant fines or even prosecution.
So, since it is a legal obligation to retain records, it’s incredibly important to organisations that they get it right. Software can be used to automate the processes around records management – this is much more reliable than expecting people to remember to do it / to do it right.
Without effective records management in place, you may not be complying with laws such as the Freedom of Information Act, the Public Records Act or GDPR. You may also not be adhering to statutory/fiscal requirements.
Having a records management system that is full integrated with your existing ways of working makes RM become second nature. If you require staff to take additional steps, it may not get done.
Having a well-functioning Records Management system protects your critical business data, maintains compliance and ensures out-of-date records are securely destroyed.
Migrating from a legacy records management platform
Traditionally, third-party packages (such as Meridio) have been used to handle records management. However, these legacy systems require manual interaction – for example, users must drag a file into Meridio when they are ready to turn it into a record.
Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online now features Records Management functionality, and because it’s built into the same software that is creating the information, it no longer relies on your staff to perform records management. Everything is taken care of by the M365 platform itself. With the correct configuration, saving a Word document, having a Microsoft Teams conversation or sending an email in Outlook will automatically create a record that follows your organisation’s specific data governance requirements.
Core is uniquely placed to help your organisation make the move to Microsoft 365 Records Management. We are one of the very few Microsoft Solutions Partners in the world who have on-the-ground experience migrating organisations like yours from legacy platforms onto Microsoft 365 records management.
Our team has the experience, skills, tools and knowledge to get the job done, helping you bring your records management into a more modern, better way of working, driving value from your investment in M365 and ensuring you remain compliant.
Get in touch with us
Core are the leading experts in Records Management with Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online, and we would be happy to guide you through this exciting modern approach to RM.
Book a free consultation now for:
- An understanding of how your business can benefit from Records Management
- Clear advice on any challenges your business may face and how to overcome them
- A clear pathway for your business to take, with guidance on adoption and deployment
What our customers say about us
Core have been outstanding to work with. They really listened to what we were trying to do, talked through all of their ideas, and fully explained the pros and cons involved while taking into account our long-term business goals.
Over the years, Core and the University of Law have built a strong relationship based on trust, expertise and knowledge. Core has always listened to and addressed our specific needs, before tailoring a specific and precise solution, whether that be delivering a successful SharePoint Online project, or when approached for some guidance or advice around Dynamics 365 licensing. We very much look forward to collaborating on future projects with Core.
It was apparent from day one that Core had a depth of knowledge in Microsoft 365, which we simply hadn’t found anywhere else.
With pre-purposed training modules and the ability to tailor training to our specific needs, Core ticks all the boxes. What may have taken weeks to prepare by way of training materials, instead took only days.
Core have helped us with various projects, from initiation to delivery for web development to app deployments, and they have always shown a high level of expertise and creativity. Core is not just a solution provider, they are also a trusted advisor who take time to understand our needs and goals to ensure our investment delivers value to the business. In an age where supplier engagement can be painful, it has been a pleasure working with Core since the outset!
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