Electronic information is playing a larger role in court cases every year. Although one would think that the information would be easy to access as well as be somewhat organized, the truth is that the files are never as easily organized as one would like. Worse, the security of the file can come into question, especially when a number of different people have access to it. In a court case, this can pose a problem, especially when questions arise related to who has handled the information. The BS 10008 Standard was designed to make allowances for these issues.
The BS 10008 Standard was designed to make the utilization of electronic records for legal purposes a much easier process. BS 10008 allows for the tracking of usage, and the general management of electronic data so as to ensure that the data may be used in a court of law, usually as proof of wrong-doing on one part or the other. The BS 10008 Standard allows for a file to be correctly used by insuring accurate recording of information in that file, as well as who had access to it and what changes were made in it, if necessary. In short, BS 10008 maximizes the weight and legal admissibility of electronic information standards of a given electronic file.
Specifically, BS 10008 is the British standard when it comes to  dealing with electronic information. There are a number of  potential issues when it comes to electronic information that must  be allowed for when it can possibly be used as court evidence. A  number of these problems relate to how files are used in the corporate world. A specific problem that must be addressed is that files are available over a network to anyone that has permission to access them. As court proceedings require that specific users be identified, as well as which changes were made by which user, this can get complicated even in the smallest office.
Some of these problems are that too many people may have access to a particular file. These problems are usually easily solved through limiting access to the file, either by shutting out a potential user completely or by allowing limiting access, such as the ability to a read-only version of the file. By carefully following the BS 10008 Standard, one can easily safeguard a file, ensuring that the file will easily exceed the requirements for court evidence.
However, these contingencies are allowed through the BS 10008. By following the mandates of that standard, a company is batter able to track what was done to a file, and to see what was done to that file at a particular time. Advocates and prosecutes alike can rest easy knowing that they can determine a file’s history reasonably easily, making the file acceptable evidence for the purposes of most court cases. The BS 10008 Standard is on the way towards making life easier to prosecute and defend those involved in cyber-crimes by ensuring that the file in question has been handled with the utmost of care.

BS 10008:2008

International BSI Standard

Evidential weight and legal admissibility of electronic information. Specification