# Choose vital-record media that can still be read after disruption > Use 36 CFR 1223.18 - Form and format of vital records to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. - Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/choose-vital-record-media-that-can-still-be-read-after-disruption/ - Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security) - Author: DSE Security Editorial Team - Published: 2026-08-27T12:11:33+00:00 - Modified: 2026-08-27T13:07:00+00:00 - Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-08-26 - Resource type: Explainer - DSE priority: Advisory - Topics: Business Continuity, Cybersecurity - Reading time: 3 minutes ## What you need to know Use 36 CFR 1223.18 - Form and format of vital records to review this narrow operational decision without extending the source beyond its stated scope. ## Potentially affected Teams, systems, services, or facilities within the stated scope of 36 CFR 1223.18 - Form and format of vital records ## DSE recommendation Compare the observed state with the cited official source, document applicability and exceptions, and test any approved change with rollback safeguards. ## Article Frame this document as a source-led configuration and assurance check: Choose vital-record media that can still be read after disruption. Only the official source and traced locations below supply facts. Confirm applicability before acting. ## Source fact: The official [36 CFR 1223.18 – Form and format of vital records](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/section-1223.18) from National Archives and Records Administration via eCFR supports the following bounded statements: - Under 36 CFR 1223, records may be maintained on a variety of media including paper, magnetic tape, optical disk, photographic film, and microform. The research record locates this support at 36 CFR 1223.18(b) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(b)). - Under 36 CFR 1223, vital records can be original records or copies of records. The research record locates this support at 36 CFR 1223.18(a) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(a)). The source support ends with the statements listed above. Use them to examine essential functions, upstream providers, recovery sequences, alternate work paths, and tested recovery objectives in the applicable environment, not to imply a wider guarantee. ## What the source does not establish Federal agency records-management regulation; media longevity, format, encryption, keys, software, hardware, power, and qualified operators all require lifecycle planning. It does not establish a deployment’s current state, authorize a production change, prove compliance, or show that identity, DNS, communications, facilities, suppliers, and the people authorized to invoke recovery are healthy. Documented options are review inputs, not universal mandates. ## Applicability questions - For source statement 1 at 36 CFR 1223.18(b) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(b)), which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here? - For source statement 2 at 36 CFR 1223.18(a) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(a)), which observable configuration, record, or test can confirm applicability here? - Which owner can attest to the recorded state of essential functions, upstream providers, recovery sequences, alternate work paths, and tested recovery objectives, including exceptions? - What baseline for identity, DNS, communications, facilities, suppliers, and the people authorized to invoke recovery must accompany the source-specific observation? - Which success, stop, and escalation criteria are written before testing begins? ## DSE recommendation: DSE recommends using the cited source as the evidence anchor for this decision. Make the source, asset scope, owner, and expected outcome explicit in the review record. Record the source location, examined part of essential functions, upstream providers, recovery sequences, alternate work paths, and tested recovery objectives, observed and expected states, owner, and reason for deviation. Translate the conclusion into change control only after documenting dependencies, impact, test method, expected signals, failure signals, and restoration steps. Include identity, DNS, communications, facilities, suppliers, and the people authorized to invoke recovery, while excluding secrets and sensitive personal or topology data from ordinary tickets. ## Verification and evidence Build a reproducible chain from 36 CFR 1223.18(b) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(b)); 36 CFR 1223.18(a) (eCFR anchor p-1223.18(a)) to the observed environment. Useful domain evidence includes business-impact records, dependency maps, exercise results, recovery timings, and open corrective actions; label every item with scope, timestamp, collector, and stable identifier. Close the review only when the evidence, exception handling, resulting action, and after-state are linked. Schedule a new review after material technical, organizational, incident, or source changes; today’s observation is not a continuing guarantee. ## Official references - [36 CFR 1223.18 – Form and format of vital records](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/section-1223.18) — National Archives and Records Administration via eCFR ## Primary reference - Name: 36 CFR 1223.18 - Form and format of vital records - Authority: www.ecfr.gov - URL: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/section-1223.18 - Source publication date: Not stated by the source ## Citation and use Preferred citation: “Choose vital-record media that can still be read after disruption,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/choose-vital-record-media-that-can-still-be-read-after-disruption/ Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/ Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/ Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. 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