Digital preservation is not improvised - it rests on international standards and reference models that give practitioners a shared vocabulary, a functional blueprint and a basis for audit. Learning these models lets you design a repository that others can trust and assess, rather than a bespoke system only you understand.

The foundational model is OAIS (Open Archival Information System, ISO 14721). It defines the functions a trustworthy archive must perform and the information packages that flow through it. Around OAIS sit metadata standards, records-management standards and certification frameworks.

OAIS - the reference model

OAIS describes six functional entities (Ingest, Archival Storage, Data Management, Administration, Preservation Planning, Access) and three information packages: the SIP (Submission), the AIP (Archival) and the DIP (Dissemination). It also introduces key concepts such as the designated community and representation information - the knowledge needed to interpret the bits.

Metadata and content standards

  • PREMIS - the international standard for preservation metadata: objects, events, agents and rights.
  • Dublin Core and MODS - descriptive metadata; EAD for archival finding aids; Spectrum for museum collections management procedures.
  • METS - a wrapper that binds descriptive, administrative and structural metadata with the content files.
  • IIIF - interoperable delivery of images and their metadata for access.

Records management and security

  • ISO 15489 - records management principles; ISO 16175 - functional requirements for records in digital systems.
  • ISO 27001 (information security, structured on the Annex SL high-level management-system format) underpins the confidentiality and integrity controls a repository relies on.
  • ISO 16363 / CoreTrustSeal - audit and certification of trustworthy digital repositories.
In practice. Map your repository's real workflow onto the OAIS functions and packages, then record PREMIS events at each step. When an auditor or funder asks how you meet ISO 16363, you can point at concrete SIP-to-AIP-to-DIP evidence rather than describing intentions.

Key takeaways

  • OAIS (ISO 14721) is the blueprint - learn its six functions and the SIP/AIP/DIP packages.
  • PREMIS, METS, Dublin Core, EAD, Spectrum and IIIF handle preservation, structural, descriptive and access metadata.
  • ISO 15489/16175, ISO 27001 (Annex SL) and ISO 16363/CoreTrustSeal govern records, security and trust certification.

Check your understanding

Last modified: Saturday, 1 August 2026, 10:14 AM