What percentage of a company's total records typically consist of vital records?

Vital records are a specific subset of a company's records that are essential for the ongoing operations of the business. These records typically include documents that, if lost, would significantly impair the organization's ability to function or manage its affairs, such as contracts, legal documents, and employee personal records.

In the context of record management and disaster recovery planning, the percentage of a company’s total records that are classified as vital records typically hovers around 2 percent. This figure underscores the importance of these records while also highlighting that the majority of a company's records are not critical to immediate operations and can often be replaced or reconstructed over time. This statistical perspective helps organizations prioritize their resources for records management and protection efforts, ensuring that the most critical documents are given the necessary care and backup strategies to safeguard against loss or damage.

The other percentages, while they may address different categories of records, tend to represent more general classifications rather than the vital few that are essential for business continuity.