The National Archives of Australia has published a set of recommendations for government agencies considering outsourcing data storage to external hosts and the cloud.

It says while outsourcing digital data storage can relieve pressure on storage capacity and ICT resources while reducing costs, there are potential risks to the viability, access and use of the records.

The guidelines have been published at http://www.naa.gov.au/records-management/secure-and-store/NAA-storage/outsourcing-digital-data-storage/index.aspx

They include a records management risk assessment template that can be used as a starting point to evaluate digital storage options.

There is also a General Disposal Authority for Outsourcing that authorises Australian Government agencies to transfer custody of Commonwealth records to contractors and sets out the terms and conditions that apply.

The guide highlights important aspects to consider, such as relevant Commonwealth legislation, the maintenance of required metadata and security frameworks.