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Document Control

What is Document Control?

The systematic management of documents throughout their lifecycle including creation, review, approval, distribution, revision, and archival.

Governance

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as document control. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on document control

Requirements naming document control across 5 standards, quoted from the control text.

All documents in the SQF system are controlled, including issue, revision, distribution, and obsolete document management to ensure only current versions are in use.

SQF-2.2.1 · Document Control

Maintain records relating to the security programme, including assessments, plans, training, incidents and audits, for the periods specified in corporate procedures and applicable law, and protect sensitive security information from unauthorised disclosure.

TSA-PSG-13 · Recordkeeping and document control

Execute the Select step per NIST SP 800-37 Rev 2 Chapter 3 Step 3. Select an initial set of security and privacy controls from NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 (or successor) commensurate with the system categorisation, then tailor the baseline (adding, removing, scoping,...

NISTSP37-3 · RMF Select Step: Security and Privacy Control Selection

Per PIC/S GMP Chapter 4: documentation. Requirements include (a) implement Documentation System including controlled procedures + work instructions + specifications + records + reports + (b) implement Record Keeping including batch records + raw materials + in...

PICSGMP-4 · Chapter 4: Documentation - System, Record-Keeping, Data Integrity

Questions people ask about document control

What is Document Control?
The systematic management of documents throughout their lifecycle including creation, review, approval, distribution, revision, and archival.
Why is Document Control important for compliance?
Document Control is a key concept in Governance. Understanding document control helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Document Control?
Document Control appears in the requirement text of SQF Code Edition 9 - Safe Quality Food, TSA Pipeline Security, IRS Publication 1075, NIST SP 800-37, PIC/S Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicinal Products. Across these standards we have identified 6 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Document Control?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how document control applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Document Control applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.