Glossary

Instant messages as records

Chats in Teams, Slack, and similar tools are records when they contain a decision, direction, approval, or key advice. If a decision is made in chat, capture it into the official system.

In practice

Chats in Teams, Slack, and similar tools are records when they contain the decision, direction, approval, , not simply because they exist. If a decision is made in chat, capture it into the official system or summarise it in a decision record, and be cautious about relying on ephemeral channels.

Frequently asked questions

Do Teams or Slack messages need to be kept?

When a message documents a decision, direction, approval, or significant advice: it should be captured into the official recordkeeping system. Casual chatter generally is not a record.

See it in the register

Instant messages as records, in one connected register.

IAR turns terms like this into working practice: assets classified against your disposal authority, stewarded by position, and ready to evidence.