The New Archive Law & IT Archiving.

 

🔍 What will change with the new Archives Act?

The Archives Act has been amended to better reflect the digital age. The main changes are:

📌 Accelerated document transfer

• Documents must now be transferred to a records department after 10 years, instead of the current 20 years.
• This means that information becomes public sooner and is more accessible.

📌 More focus on digital archiving

• Governments and businesses must store their digital documents sustainably and accessibly.
• IT solutions must meet strict requirements for data integrity and security.

📌 Mandatory appointment of an archivist

• Municipalities, provinces and water boards must appoint an archivist responsible for proper information management.

📌 New rules for sustainable accessibility

• Digital documents must remain readable and usable for long periods of time, which requires smart IT solutions.

 

 

🏢 How does your organization meet the new requirements?

To be compliant with the new law, a good IT archiving policy is essential. Follow these 5 steps:

✅ 1. Evaluate your current filing system 🔎

• Map out how you currently handle archiving and where the gaps are.
• See if your systems are suitable for digital long-term storage.

✅ 2. Choose the right IT solutions 💾

• Use cloud-based archiving solutions such as Microsoft 365, SharePoint or specialized ECM systems.
• Provide encryption, access control and backups for maximum security.

✅ 3. Appoint an archivist or person in charge 🏛️

• Make sure someone within your organization is responsible for information management.
• Have employees trained in document management and compliance.

✅ 4. Provide a sustainable archiving plan 📜

• Create a plan for long-term digital storage.
• Use open file formats such as PDF/A and XML to avoid obsolescence.

✅ 5. Perform regular audits and updates 🛠️

• Periodically check that your filing system complies with the law.
• Update your strategy and technology as needed to stay compliant.

 

 

🚀 The benefits of a modern filing system

By investing in a modern IT archiving system now, your organization will benefit from:

🔹 More efficient document management – find what you need faster.
🔹 Better compliance – no legal risks or fines.
🔹 Higher security – protection against data loss and cyber threats.
🔹 Greater transparency – easier access to information.

 

 

📢 Time for action! Is your organization already prepared?

The new Archives Act is coming and organizations need to get their IT archiving in order. Don’t wait until the last minute! Get started today:

✔️Evaluating your current filing system
✔️Implementing digital archiving solutions
✔️Training employees in archiving rules

Want to spar about how to make your IT archiving compliant? 💬 Get in touch with us! ⬇️

 

References

¹https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/plenaire_verslagen/kamer_in_het_kort/eerste-termijn-behandeling-nieuwe-archiefwet

 

 

About the author

My name is Alta Martes, a specialist in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with a focus on modern workplace management, cloud security and identity & access management. With years of experience, I help organizations optimize their IT infrastructure and create a secure, efficient digital workplace.

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