Detailed Analysis
Information Governance (IG) resides at the start of the EDRM because it establishes the foundation for all subsequent electronic discovery activities. It is the proactive management of information to balance risk and value within an organization.
Organizations must implement strict protocols for data retention and disposal. Without a robust IG framework, the cost of identification and collection increases exponentially due to the volume of redundant, obsolete, or trivial (ROT) data. Governance involves legal, IT, and records management departments collaborating to define what information must be kept and how long it should be stored.
Key components include:
- Developing a data map of all storage locations.
- Creating enforceable retention policies.
- Implementing defensible deletion strategies for expired records.
- Ensuring data security and compliance with international privacy laws.