This guide contains practical steps that will help public sector organizations and departments develop a text message policy and retention strategy to protect against the risk involved with use of this popular, universal form of communication. It also outlines some smart text recordkeeping practices so you’ll be better prepared to respond to open records requests or other e-discovery needs when they arise.

Social media can greatly improve communication, deliver constituent services, help optimize processes, and aid response to emergencies within your community. It can also allow public sector organization employees to be more accountable, transparent, and open. Along with the benefits comes increased awareness of security, privacy, and records management challenges on social media.

A solid social media strategy can help your organization and departments connect with the community in an easy, time and cost-effective manner that most people can access. The strategy doesn’t need to be complicated. Whether this is your first time developing a social media strategy, or you already have one in place, remember to keep it simple. Here are a few things to consider while developing or rounding-out your strategy:

• Available social media tools and capabilities
• Internal policies and approvals
• External requirements for preserving records and responding to information requests
• Your organization’s overall objectives and the needs of the community

Text messaging is an immediate and simple way of communicating, so many government employees prefer it over email or other traditional methods. However, FOIA laws require all electronic communications used for business to be archived and available for public record requests. It doesn’t matter whether an employee uses his/her personal or government-issued cell phone, both are fair game.

In this guide we’ll show how public sector organizations can build an airtight mobile strategy. Learn about device scenarios, policy creation, mobile device management, and the archiving process.

Read our guide to learn:

• Device ownership scenarios – advantages and disadvantages
• Key questions to answer for an airtight policy
• How to retain & report text message content

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recognize social media’s growing role in firms’ marketing and communications strategies, and have provided guidance on extending compliance programs for this dynamic channel.

This guide contains practical steps that will help you develop a social media strategy and policy that meets social media recordkeeping and supervision regulatory requirements, while gaining maximum business value from your social efforts. With smart compliance practices and supporting technology, you can be prepared to present your social media records and evidence of your supervisory procedures in the event of a regulatory request or exam.