Can We Look at Sequestration as an Opportunity?

Living and working in the DC metropolitan area has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to the news surrounding our nation's government. When you are talking about something as large as the recent Federal Government sequestration, there is no doubt that you can become consumed with this topic and learn quite a lot about it in a short period of time.

For example, you can seem like an expert outside the beltway to family, friends and colleagues when it comes to the details of Sequestration impact. You quickly learn what a furlough is, the rules around informing employees that a furlough is coming, and how their lives may change because of it. You understand the impact we see not only on the local economies of the District of Columbia and the adjacent states of Maryland and Virginia, but globally. And Sequestration is also felt on a smaller, more personal level by citizens with cuts like the recent cancellation of the White House tours.

The Federal Government is in a situation to have to take drastic action, and it will be a hard budget-tightening reality to swallow for Federal Agencies and the Department of Defense no matter what is said or written in the aftermath.

But, can we look at Sequestration as an opportunity?

When it comes to records management, I would have to say Yes. With the recent Presidential Directive on Managing Government Records focused on creating a more open and transparent government, and now Sequestration in effect, federal agencies are looking to re-define this process and re-tool what efficiency looks like when it comes to records management.

The Time is Now.

Iron Mountain has recently conducted an online research survey asking 200 federal records managers and finance professionals to assess their records practices, budgets, opportunities for savings, and views on the future.

It's unanimous. It's unsustainable. Chief among the findings of the report is each federal agency that responded is spending an average of $34.4 million per year on records management, or $5 million more than budgeted. Spending on records management by agency is expected to more than double to $84.1 million by 2015 due to an expected 144 percent increase in records per agency over the next two years. Each agency manages an average of 209 million records, which equates to an annual government-wide 8.4 billion records. Multiplied by 144 percent, those numbers will reach 511 million and 20.4 Billion records, respectively, by 2015.

The need is very real. The research shows federal agencies need records management solutions that include the development of a strategic plan, agency-wide collaboration and training, and policy guidance and enforcement all aimed at regaining control for today and the future.

What Can You Do?

Download the report. Read about the chief causes of government information management budget overruns, learn best practices for efficiency improvements.

LINK:	http://blog.ironmountain.com/2013/federal-government-records/can-we-lo...
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