What is ISO 15489?

ISO 15489 is the international standard for records management, published by the International Organization for Standardization. It is the common reference point for the records management profession worldwide, defining what records management is and what good practice looks like — independent of any particular technology or jurisdiction.

Principles-based, not product-based

Unlike a software-testing standard such as DoD 5015.2, ISO 15489 is principles-based. It does not certify products; it describes concepts. Specifically, it sets out:

• The characteristics of an authoritative record, often summarized as four qualities:
  • Authenticity — the record is what it claims to be, created by who it claims.
  • Reliability — its content can be trusted as an accurate representation.
  • Integrity — it is complete and unaltered.
  • Usability — it can be located, retrieved, and interpreted.
• The processes that produce and maintain such records: creating and capturing records, classification, access and security controls, retention and disposition, and the metadata needed throughout.

How it is used

Organizations use ISO 15489 as a benchmark to design and assess their records management programs. It provides a shared vocabulary — terms like records system, appraisal, and disposition — that lets professionals across industries and countries communicate precisely. It also underpins related standards, including ISO 16175 (functional requirements for records in digital environments) and the ISO 30300 series on management systems for records.

Why it matters

ISO 15489 matters because it elevates records management from local habit to recognized discipline. By articulating the qualities a trustworthy record must have and the processes that preserve them, it gives organizations a defensible, internationally accepted basis for their programs. When combined with product standards that verify software capabilities and with audit practices that demonstrate compliance, it forms part of a complete picture of trustworthy recordkeeping. See the compliance and standards hub for the related standards.