Zero-Click Recordkeeping: A New Era for Federal Records Management
MITRE Corporation’s 2024 report, “Considerations for NARA on Leading the Federal Government to Zero-Click Recordkeeping,” proposes a transformative vision where federal records are automatically created, captured, and managed as part of everyday workflows—without the need for forms, folders, or manual intervention. This approach challenges the traditional lifecycle model of records management, which segments records into distinct stages, and instead aligns more with the records continuum model, where records are continuously integrated into systems and communities.
Zero-click recordkeeping demands systems that generate contextual metadata, embed retention rules in software, and ensure records remain active and meaningful over time. This shift requires rethinking traditional policies, particularly the concepts of "transfer" and "disposition," as records are no longer static objects but live within systems, constantly evolving.
MITRE’s vision calls on NARA to embrace system-based governance, certify systems for continuous preservation, and adopt policies that treat records as dynamic entities. By reimagining records management in this way, NARA can modernise federal recordkeeping and move towards a future where recordkeeping is seamless, automated, and embedded in daily operations.