To prevent a disaster from damaging the business records, organizations must first recognize the potential disasters. The most common threats to record include damaged cause by fire, water, theft, system failures, computer viruses, vandalism, and sabotage. Other potential disaster also can come from adverse environmental condition.
Most modern paper stock is undergoing a continual process of deterioration caused by the high level of paper and acidity, and the problem is intensified by atmospheric pollution. Records maintained on microform or magnetic media are also highly susceptible to deterioration if appropriate are not taken to regulate temperature, humidity, population and lighting. Therefore, organization needs to prepare a disaster planning or contingency plan for coping with any disaster.