Information technology acquisitions bring benefits--and risks.

• Author: Lanter, Amy
• Position: IN FOCUS: A Message from the Editor

In this issue of Information Management, our authors dive into records and information management (RIM) compliance and risk management issues. Because many information risks accompany the adoption of new technology for business, such as the use of cloud-based services, social media, and mobile devices, several articles focus on technology.

For example, those risks are top of mind for many of the respondents to the fourth annual Forrester Research and ARMA International Records Management Survey that was conducted a few months ago. Although 71% said they plan to implement new information technology, only 8% of the respondents said they are planning for cloud-based records management (RM) applications, primarily because of security, privacy, and legal concerns connected with using them, according to author Brian Hill, Forrester Research analyst.

Another technology-related risk of great concern to survey respondents is not being prepared for e-discovery. Only 12% said they are "very confident" that, if challenged, their organizations could demonstrate that their electronically stored information is accurate, accessible, complete, and trustworthy. In his article, John T. Phillips, CRM, CDIA, FAI, explains how RIM staff can help minimize this risk by developing a litigation readiness and response program and lending their professional insight into best practices for litigation holds.

Readers struggling with these technology-related risks also will find valuable guidance in the fall Hot Topic, which is included inside as a pull-out special section. In this issue, three expert authors--University of San Jose associate professor Patricia Franks, Ph.D., CRM; Gartner Inc. research vice president Kenneth Chin; and Intelligent Discovery Solutions Inc. co-founder Daniel Regard--examine strategies for managing corporate information that is...