The Social Security Administration’s Management of Electronic Message Records

The Federal Records Act defines a record as including all recorded information, regardless of form or characteristics, made or received by a Federal agency under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved, or appropriate for preservation, as evidence of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities.

Electronic messages include electronic mail and other electronic messaging systems individuals use to communicate. Electronic messages created or received during agency business are Federal records and must be captured and managed in compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and policies.

We issued this report to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) had policies, procedures, and controls in place to ensure electronic message records were managed in accordance with Federal regulations.

Read the full report

Read the summary report