ISO 15489 - 1:2016 Information and documentation — Records management — Part 1: Concepts and principles is a global standard for managing records. It was first published in 2001 and has been adopted in over 50 countries and translated into more than 15 languages. In 2016, a revised version of ISO 15489 Part 1 was issued after three years of review and consultation.

ISO 15489 establishes the fundamental concepts and principles for creating, capturing, and managing records. This standard applies to records in any format, structure, or technological environment, regardless of time. It covers important aspects such as records, record systems, metadata, policies, assigned responsibilities, monitoring, training, analysis of business context, identification of records requirements, records controls, and processes for creating, capturing, and managing records.

Part 1 of ISO 15489 serves as the foundation for several other international standards and technical reports that offer additional guidance on the concepts, techniques, and practices for managing records. There are also ongoing developments for subsequent parts of ISO 15489 that will provide implementation advice to complement the existing suite of guidance.