What started as a day designated to recognize the importance of proper records and information management in 1995 by the ARMA US Government Relations Committee has evolved into a month-long celebration each April, promoting the importance of proper management of data and information within organizations. Records and Information Management (RIM) is defined as the “discipline developing and implementing the policies, processes, systems, and resources to manage an organization’s records and information across their lifecycle in support of organizational goals, compliance, risk management and information governance.” ARMA International Glossary of Information Governance Terms, 6th ed. ARMA International, 2026.

Proper records and information management involves the appropriate administration of the lifecycle of Company information: from creation and receipt, through use, maintenance and storage, to disposal. At its core, effective RIM is about ensuring the right information is available at the right time, while minimizing the risks of keeping too much for too long.

If RIM had a motto, it might be: “Just because you can keep it, doesn’t mean you should.”

This month, we will be promoting best practices in information governance, security, disposal and exploring how proper data management can support the responsible development and use of AI tools through a series of upcoming Passle posts.

As RIM continues to evolve, it’s a good opportunity to take stock of where your organization stands—and where there may be opportunities to improve.