Information
Data in context with a particular meaning. Information is a collective term used to refer to non-digital and digital, structured and unstructured data. Information is a vital, strategic asset.
Structured data
Raw facts or figures that are usually stored in relational databases and organised in defined columns and rows.
Unstructured data
Content held in documents, email, images, videos and web pages that are not organised in a pre-defined way.
Records
Information created, received and maintained as evidence in the course of council business. Both unstructured and structured data can be managed as a record.
Archives
Records selected for permanent preservation due to their evidential, cultural, or historical value.
Information governance
Information governance is a strategic framework for managing information assets across the entire council to get the best value from information while minimising associated risks.
Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) - the role responsible for managing information risk at the highest level.
Information Asset Owner
Designated senior managers responsible for monitoring the risks to information held in their service. Their role is to understand what information is held, what is added and what is removed, how information is moved, and who has access and why.
Information champion
Operational managers who are delegated tasks from an Information Asset Owner, to manage information on a day-to-day basis.
Information Asset Register
A simple catalogue to understand and manage information assets and the risks to them.
The focus of the IAR is on the information content, whether stored on paper, digital or another format, not the systems that hold them.
Information Asset
Any grouping of information, physical or digital, that has value in supporting your service’s work.