06 January
The National Archives is today launching the first ever public sector directory of commercial services and solutions to help secure the long-term survival of digital information.
Most public sector information is now created digitally and it is the government's responsibility to manage this ever-growing mass of digital data. Active intervention is needed to ensure key digital information remains accessible and useable over time.
Safeguarding our records
As part of a project to safeguard our digital public records, The National Archives has developed the Digital Continuity Framework, which is launched today in partnership with Buying Solutions - the national procurement partner for all UK public services.
Jessie Owen, Head of Digital Continuity at The National Archives, said: 'The public sector has a duty to operate transparently, legally and accountably. It can't do that without usable information - and keeping information usable is much more of a challenge in this digital age. That's why we created the Digital Continuity Framework - to give the public sector easy access to the technical tools and services that can help them to use their information in the way that they need, for as long as they need.'
Managing information assets
The framework provides access to guidance that can help public sector bodies understand and manage their information assets. The services and solutions in the framework include data conversion and migration services, data storage consultancy and digital archiving solutions.
The Digital Continuity Framework is available to anyone in central government, or the wider public sector. It can be used from 6 January 2011 and will run for two years, with an option to extend it.
