Five percent of your organization's total records may not seem like a whole lot. It may even sound pretty unimportant. That couldn't be further from the truth, though.

Vital records comprise the most pivotal 5% of your company's records, and how you treat them can affect your business in a handful of ways.

They may consist of legal documents, photographs, customer records, x-rays, blueprints, patents or any other vital piece of data. Whatever they may be is irrelevant. How you store them is the most important factor in determining their useful lifecycle.

This white paper is an excellent starting point on your quest to discover what your vital records are, offering up a list of questions you should always ask yourself in determining which records fall into this category. You also will learn about the inherent risks associated with inadequate preservation and how to implement an effective and efficient vital records program for your organization.