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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesInformation life cycle management (ILCM) is the coordinated management of information from its creation or collection through processing, sharing, use and storage to its final disposition, which may include destruction or deletion. It means applying appropriate organizational requirements and controls at each relevant stage—not following one universal checklist.
What are the stages of the information life cycle?
NIST defines the information life cycle as the stages information passes through: creation or collection, processing, dissemination, use, storage and disposition, including destruction and deletion. The definition appears in the NIST glossary, which attributes it to NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 2 and OMB Circular A-130 (2016).
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In practical terms, an organization decides what information it needs and may collect, how it will be handled and shared, how it will be protected and retained, and what should happen when it is no longer needed. The stages are a useful way to organize those decisions, but not every type of information follows an identical sequence.
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Management means making decisions and applying suitable requirements throughout the information’s life—not waiting until storage is full or a file is ready to delete. The questions differ by stage and by the information’s purpose and applicable rules.
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- Creation or collection: What information is being created or received, for what business or research purpose, and under what authority?
- Processing: How will it be changed, analyzed or otherwise handled, and what rules govern that work?
- Dissemination and use: Who may access it, use it or share it? Are sharing arrangements needed?
- Storage: How will it be protected and kept usable, and what retention or preservation requirement applies?
- Disposition: When the information is no longer needed for its active purpose, should it be destroyed, deleted or transferred for preservation under the applicable requirements?
NIST explains that understanding how different information types are handled across their life cycle helps organizations identify protection considerations, assess security and privacy risks, and select and implement controls. The life-cycle view also helps organizations address authority to collect or create information, processing rules, information-sharing agreements, and retention schedules.
How is the information life cycle different from the records life cycle?
The terms describe related but differently grouped models. Information life cycle language can cover organizational information beyond formal records; records-management models focus on records and their requirements. The stages also vary in detail.
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| Model | Scope and stages | How it treats the sequence |
|---|---|---|
| NIST information life cycle | Information: creation or collection, processing, dissemination, use, storage and disposition | A broad set of stages; the source does not characterize it as a fixed, universal sequence. |
| NARA records life cycle | Records: creation or receipt, maintenance and use, and disposition | Three broad stages; NARA says the life cycle “usually consists” of these stages. |
| NIST Research Data Framework v2.0 | Research data: Envision, Plan, Generate/Acquire, Process/Analyze, Share/Use/Reuse, and Preserve/Discard | Described as cyclical and flexible, rather than a rigid one-way sequence. |
NARA’s three-stage model is a records-management model, not simply a shorter synonym for every information life cycle. Its records-management FAQ outlines the stages. For research data specifically, NIST’s Research Data Framework v2.0 uses six flexible, cyclical stages.
What does disposition mean?
Disposition is the authorized outcome for information or records at the end of their required period of use or retention. It does not automatically mean deletion. For federal records, NARA describes disposition as either destruction or transfer to permanent archival holdings. Its records-management guidance for agencies emphasizes addressing recordkeeping requirements before records are created and throughout their life cycle, regardless of format or media.
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The applicable retention period depends on the relevant requirements and schedule; there is no single duration for all information. Organizations should identify the governing retention or preservation requirement before disposing of material.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What tools support information and records management?
NARA identifies practical aids for maintaining and using records, including file plans, indexes, controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, data dictionaries, and access and security procedures. These tools can help people organize, find, understand and appropriately protect information. The right choices depend on the organization’s information and requirements; the tools do not replace retention rules or authorized disposition decisions.
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