Annapolis, MD

Government Document Management in Annapolis, MD

Government document management in Annapolis, MD. In today's digital age, government agencies deal with an always-increasing number of documents and data. Managing this information successfully is critical to maintaining compliance, safeguarding sensitive data, and enhancing efficiency and productivity. Fundamentally, government document management is about maintenance of the massive amounts of information that governmental bodies are in control of. It involves a range of activities, from putting in place policies for document management to creating a records management system and ensuring proper storage and retrieval of documents. HITS provides government solutions for Annapolis, MD agencies both big and small for over 25 years. We can help you streamline your current document management policies and bring your agency out of the dark ages. Speak to a team member today at 314-837-4000 or contact us through our website for a free estimate.

Why Government Document Management in Annapolis, MD Is Important

Whether your Annapolis, MD agency is at the local, state, or federal level, the public the public has to trust that things are being done correctly. Effective document management is crucial for government agencies for myriad reasons. First, it assures you abide by regulations and laws, like the Freedom of Information Act and laws about people's personal data. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to penalties and suspicion from the public.

Second, document management safeguards sensitive information. Government bodies often deal with highly sensitive information, including data from people, businesses, other agencies and the government itself. Proper document management ensures this data can be retrieved effortlessly, but only by those who are allowed access.

Third, document management makes your agency more productive and efficient. With an orderly and system that's easy to retrieve information from, government employees can have everything they need at their fingertips, work together successfully, and avoid duplicating efforts.

Fourth, government documents must be easily accessible to authorized workers. Government agencies need accurate information to function at the highest level. An poor system can hinder internal processes, causing inefficiencies in service delivery.

Lastly, document management improves accountability. By keeping track of all activities and decisions, document management helps ensure that government agencies are accountable to the public, and don't suffer from false allegations.

Common Problems With Government Document Management in Annapolis, MD

Despite great efforts, many Annapolis, MD government agencies are not as efficient as they'd like to be in government management as a result of the unique difficulties they have to deal with. Some of those challenges are:

• Volume and diversity of documents — Government agencies create and receive a massive amount of documents every day, for instance reports, emails, applications, meeting notes, and more. Properly categorizing and maintaining all of these documents can be overwhelming, particularly for smaller agencies who are dealing with a limited budget.
• Complexity of regulations and laws — Government agencies are required to abide by numerous different regulations and laws concerning how documents are received, stored, and destroyed, including data protection laws, records retention laws, and Freedom of Information Act obligations. Adhering to these rules while dealing with the massive influx of new documents is difficult.
• Limited resources and budget — Government agencies regularly have a short supply of resources and budget to devote to document management. What is truly needed to manage documents effectively may often take a back seat to what are seen as more pressing concerns.
• Legacy systems — A lot of government agencies are still using systems that are soon becoming obsolete, which can make it difficult to manage documents effectively. Paper documents are prone to be destroyed, stolen, or misplaced, while legacy on-premises systems may be insecure or may not be able to keep up with the amount of data.

By hiring a knowledgeable government document management agency in Annapolis, MD, you can ameliorate these difficulties by migrating your information into a cloud or hybrid system that helps your entire office run more smoothly.

What a Government Document Management Company in Annapolis, MD Can Do For Your Agency

Annapolis, MD document management companies can provide government agencies with the tools and expertise needed to manage documents effectively. Here are some ways that a document management company can help:

• Assess current document management processes — A document management company can perform an evaluation of current document management processes to determine areas where you could do better and provide advice for a more efficient system.
• Identify a new document management system — They'll also be able to help you decide which type of system is best for their needs.
• Manage data migration — We can oversee the movement of data from your current system to the new document management system, ensuring no data is lost on the way. If you still use paper storage, we can help your agency go paperless and become much more efficient.
• Provide training and support — A document management company can also provide training and support to ensure that staff are able to use the new document management system to become more efficient.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory oversight — We can also help ensure that your Annapolis, MD agency is adhering to document management laws in their sector, including data protection laws and Freedom of Information Act rules.
• Offer ongoing maintenance and support — A document management company can provide ongoing maintenance and support for the document management system, ensuring that it continues to meet the agency's needs over time.

By partnering with a document management company in Annapolis, MD like HITS, government agencies can ensure that they have the tools and knowledge needed to manage documents efficiently, while freeing up resources to focus on what they do best. With HITS, you get:

Core Competencies

Differentiators

How to Have Successful Government Document Management in Annapolis, MD

It takes more than brand new software and successfully migrating your data to get government document management right. Your Annapolis, MD agency's procedures and employees need to be actively integrated and educated on how to use the new system to your advantage. To effectively manage government documents, agencies should implement the following best practices in Annapolis, MD:

• Create a document management policy — A document management policy should contain formal rules for the agency's procedures for generating, storing, and disposing of documents. The policy should also establish directions for document retention and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. It's essential that all of your employees understand this policy well.
• Implement an electronic document management system (EDMS) — An EDMS allows government agencies to store, manage, and retrieve documents through a software. This eliminates the dependency on paper documents, streamlines workflow, and facilitates collaboration among personnel.
• Set up document security procedures — Document security protocols need to be established to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security risks. This may include implementing password protection, encryption, and restricting access to certain documents - both in terms of employees and the public.
• Regularly review and update document management procedures — Document management procedures should be evaluated and updated on a consistent basis to ensure they remain effective and compliant with changing legal and regulatory requirements, and are up-to-date with advances in practice or technology.
• Offer staff training — Staff training is required to ensure that personnel understand and adhere to document management processes. This includes training on all of the above.

Other services we offer in Annapolis, MD:

• Large Format Scanning
• Information Management
• Government Records Management
• Electronic Health Records
• HIPAA Compliant Document Shredding
• STR8VIEW Document Scanning
• Federal Records Management
• Secure Destruction Services
• Medical Records Management

Call HITS For Your Government Document Management in Annapolis, MD

Successful document management is crucial for Annapolis, MD government agencies to ensure compliance with regulations, secure confidential information, and improve efficiency and productivity. Nonetheless, it can be a daunting task to establish and maintain a document management system, particularly for agencies that don't have much funding. Annapolis, MD government document management companies can help government agencies defeat these challenges by providing the tools and expertise needed to manage documents effectively. By implementing best practices for document management, government agencies can ensure that they are operating efficiently and securely, and are accountable to the public. Call HITS at 314-837-4000 or contact us online to discuss your government document management needs in Annapolis, MD today.