Information Governance: Not Just Hype

Information governance is more than the latest buzzword — it goes well beyond traditional records management. While the term is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout all industries and types of organizations, what does it mean? At the highest level, information governance is a holistic, all-encompassing discipline that, when effectively implemented and managed, offers multiple and varied benefits to an organization.

Law firms, in particular, are at a critical juncture with managing both firm and client information. Unlike most other organizations, law firms, as custodians of client information, are often subject to unique and complex rules and requirements. Many firms are expanding traditional record practices to address scrutiny from clients, the pervasiveness of mobile devices, and increased matter mobility as partners move from firm to firm. Firms are identifying challenges presented by Big Data, including ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements and growing threats of security breaches.