ISO IEC 27050-3-2020 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC 27050-3:2020 — Information technology — Electronic discovery — Part 3: Code of practice for electronic discovery. This part of the ISO/IEC 27050 series provides a code of practice containing requirements and recommendations for activities in electronic discovery (eDiscovery), covering processes from identification and preservation through to collection, processing, review, analysis and production of electronically stored information (ESI).

Abstract

This document specifies requirements and guidance on eDiscovery activities and the measures that span the lifecycle of ESI from creation to final disposition. It is intended for both technical and non‑technical personnel involved in some or all electronic discovery activities and notes that users must account for applicable jurisdictional and legal requirements when applying the guidance.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: January 27, 2020 (Edition 2 published January 2020).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) — developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27.
• ICS / categories: 35.030 (IT security).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2020).
• Number of pages: 27 pages.

Scope

The standard provides requirements and recommendations for electronic discovery activities including identification, preservation, collection, processing, review, analysis and production of ESI. It also specifies measures that cover the ESI lifecycle from initial creation to final disposition and is applicable to organizations and personnel (technical and non‑technical) who perform or support eDiscovery activities, while highlighting the need to comply with jurisdictional legal requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Overview of eDiscovery lifecycle steps: identification, legal hold/preservation, collection, processing, review, analysis and production of ESI.
• Code of practice style guidance: recommended controls, responsibilities, and processes for managing eDiscovery activities.
• Measures to maintain evidential integrity and chain of custody during collection and handling.
• Consideration of jurisdictional and legal/regulatory requirements when conducting eDiscovery.
• Roles and collaboration between legal, records management, IT, security and forensic teams.

Typical use and users

Practitioners who use this standard include in‑house and external legal teams, eDiscovery specialists, compliance officers, records managers, digital forensics analysts, IT and information security personnel, and senior managers responsible for governance of legal and investigation processes. Organizations adopt the guidance to establish repeatable, defensible eDiscovery processes and to align technical and procedural activities with legal requirements.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 27050-3:2020 is part of the ISO/IEC 27050 series. Closely related documents include ISO/IEC 27050-1 (Overview and concepts — updated edition 2019), ISO/IEC 27050-2 (Guidance for governance and management — 2018) and ISO/IEC 27050-4 (Technical readiness — 2021). Other standards referenced for evidential handling and digital investigations include ISO/IEC 27037 (guidance on identification, collection and preservation of digital evidence).

Keywords

ISO/IEC 27050, electronic discovery, eDiscovery, ESI, electronic evidence, legal hold, preservation, collection, processing, review, analysis, production, chain of custody, code of practice, information security.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 27050-3:2020 is the second‑edition international standard providing a code of practice for electronic discovery — offering requirements and recommendations for conducting eDiscovery in a defensible, consistent manner.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the main eDiscovery activities (identification, preservation/legal hold, collection, processing, review, analysis and production of ESI), measures spanning the ESI lifecycle, and guidance on roles, responsibilities and legal/jurisdictional considerations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Legal counsel, eDiscovery practitioners, compliance and records managers, IT and security teams, and forensic analysts use the standard to define and operate eDiscovery processes that are consistent with accepted good practice.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2020 edition (Edition 2) replaced the 2017 edition; ISO/IEC 27050-3:2017 was withdrawn when the 2020 edition was published. As of its 2020 publication the standard is the current edition in force. Users should check national adoption status and any later reviews or revisions from ISO/IEC for the latest lifecycle status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 3 of the ISO/IEC 27050 series on Electronic discovery. Other parts include Part 1 (overview and concepts), Part 2 (governance and management guidance) and Part 4 (technical readiness), which together provide a comprehensive framework for eDiscovery governance, practice and technical preparedness.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: eDiscovery, electronic discovery, ESI, code of practice, legal hold, preservation, collection, processing, review, production, chain of custody, digital evidence, ISO/IEC 27050.