What is ISO 16175 and how is it different from ISO 15489?

ISO 16175 and ISO 15489 are both international standards for managing records, but they operate at different levels. One sets the overall principles for records management; the other gets specific about records in digital systems. Understanding the relationship helps organizations apply each one for the right purpose.

ISO 15489: The Foundational Standard

ISO 15489 is the cornerstone international standard for records management. It defines what a record is, establishes the core characteristics of trustworthy records, and lays out the principles and processes that any records program should follow.

Its focus is broad and concept-driven. It covers:

• Authenticity, reliability, integrity, and usability as the defining qualities of a record
• High-level processes such as creating, capturing, classifying, storing, and disposing of records
• Roles, responsibilities, and the policy framework that supports a records program

ISO 15489 is technology-neutral. It tells you what good records management looks like and why it matters, but it does not prescribe how to build or evaluate a particular system.

ISO 16175: Records in Digital Environments

ISO 16175 takes those principles and applies them to digital environments. It addresses the functional and technical expectations for managing records inside electronic systems, including business applications and dedicated recordkeeping environments.

Where ISO 15489 stays at the level of principle, ISO 16175 is more concrete. It is commonly used to:

• Describe functional requirements that software and systems should meet to manage records reliably
• Guide the design, selection, and assessment of digital recordkeeping capabilities
• Help ensure that records created in digital systems remain authentic and usable over time

How They Work Together

The two standards are complementary rather than competing. Think of ISO 15489 as the principles layer and ISO 16175 as the implementation layer for digital records. Organizations typically rely on ISO 15489 to establish their overall approach and governance, then turn to ISO 16175 when specifying or evaluating the digital systems that will actually hold and manage their records.

Used together, they connect the why of trustworthy records to the how of building digital systems that preserve them.

For related guidance, see the compliance and standards topic hub.