Saving disposable data leads to ruin, says Kaufman, Rossin forensics director

“‘Document retention policy’ is a bad name,” says Luciano Humberto, director of digital forensics at accounting firm Kaufman Rossin in Miami. “The policy should say, ‘Get rid of this as soon as possible if you don’t need it.’” One of the newest Certified E-Discovery Specialists, Humberto has spent nearly three decades accumulating and dispensing wisdom on how to handle electronic data. As the volume of electronically stored information in litigation and investigations of all types rises, he says, parties need to stay focused on the merits of these cases, not the technology.

In this wide-ranging ACEDS Podcast, Humberto gives best practices for navigating new e-discovery obligations, efficiently preserving big data, and responding quickly to requests from government regulators. He tells how insufficient document retention policies can create legal and operational liabilities, and shows how firms can reduce costs and inefficiences created by excess data. “You hold onto culture. You hold onto knowledge that is fundamental to your business,” Humberto says. “You don’t hold onto a document your boss tells you he might need five years down the road. That’s incredibly dangerous.”

Click here to view Luciano Humberto’s comments and listen to his podcast.