.png)
In the ever-evolving world of digital data, trust and reliability are paramount. It's the foundation upon which organizations depend to safeguard their invaluable information. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is taking a significant step forward in this direction with the development of a new Draft International Standard (DIS) titled "ISO 16363 - Audit and Certification of Trustworthy Digital Repositories." This forthcoming standard aims to replace ISO 16363: 2012 and is being spearheaded by the ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 20/SC 13 - Space Data and Information Transfer Systems.
The inception of ISO 16363, also known as CCSDS 652.0-M-1 in September 2011, is a testament to the evolving landscape of digital data management. This standard was prepared by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), a global entity with a primary focus on developing and facilitating space-related standards and recommendations. It was based on work by the Task Force on Archiving Digital Information. It laid the foundational groundwork for enhancing the trustworthiness of digital repositories.
The adoption of ISO 16363 within the international standards community was a pivotal moment. It found its place with Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, which pertains to Aircraft and Space Vehicles. Within this committee, Subcommittee SC 13 is specifically dedicated to Space Data and Information Transfer Systems. The adoption of ISO 16363 into the global ISO framework occurred with minimal modifications.
It has been a long road with many players.
In 1996, the Task Force on Archiving of Digital Information recognized the importance of trustworthy organizations in preserving digital collections and highlighted the need for a certification process to instill trust in digital archiving infrastructure. This paved the way for the development of the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Reference Model, which outlined the requirements for long-term digital information preservation. Many institutions in the cultural heritage community adopted OAIS as a model for understanding digital preservation needs, but the concept of "OAIS-compliance" lacked a clear definition.
To address the challenge of justifying trustworthiness claims, the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) published "Trusted Digital Repositories: Attributes and Responsibilities" in 2002. This document established a framework of attributes and responsibilities for reliable, sustainable digital repositories, accommodating various situations and technical architectures. It served as a valuable tool for institutions grappling with long-term cultural heritage preservation and was often used alongside the OAIS model for digital preservation planning.
While the framework emphasized high-level organizational and technical attributes, it stopped short of prescribing specific approaches, recognizing the evolving nature of digital repositories. Instead, it reiterated the call for digital repository certification and the development of auditable criteria.
OAIS also included a roadmap for follow-on standards, including "standard(s) for accreditation of archives." RLG and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) took this initiative forward and published the TRAC (Trustworthy Repositories Audit & Certification) document, which combined concepts from OAIS and "Trusted Digital Repositories: Attributes and Responsibilities." This document played a role in shaping the standards and certification programs for trustworthy digital repositories.
Now, the next generation 16363 is taking shape and has been registered as a Draft International Standard.