ISO 14721:2012定义了开放档案信息系统（OAIS）的参考模型。OAIS是一个档案，由一个组织（可能是一个更大组织的一部分）、人员和系统组成，这些人员和系统承担了保存信息并将其提供给指定社区的责任。它符合本国际标准中定义的一系列此类职责，这使得OAIS档案能够与术语“档案”的其他用途区分开来。OAIS中的“开放”一词用于暗示ISO 14721:2012以及未来的相关国际标准是在开放论坛中制定的，并不意味着对档案的访问是不受限制的。 ISO 14721:2012 为理解和提高对长期数字信息保存和访问所需的档案概念的认识提供了一个框架， 提供了非档案组织成为保存过程有效参与者所需的概念， 提供了一个框架，包括术语和概念，用于描述和比较现有和未来档案的架构和操作， 为描述和比较不同的长期保存策略和技术提供了一个框架， 为比较档案保存的数字信息的数据模型和讨论数据模型和基础信息如何随时间变化提供了基础， 提供了一个可以通过其他努力扩展的框架，以涵盖非数字形式的信息（例如物理介质和物理样本）的长期保存， 扩大对长期数字信息保存和访问的要素和流程的共识，并促进供应商可以支持的更大市场，以及 指导OAIS相关标准的识别和制作。

ISO 14721:2012 defines the reference model for an open archival information system (OAIS). An OAIS is an archive, consisting of an organization, which may be part of a larger organization, of people and systems that has accepted the responsibility to preserve information and make it available for a designated community. It meets a set of such responsibilities as defined in this International Standard, and this allows an OAIS archive to be distinguished from other uses of the term "archive". The term "open" in OAIS is used to imply that ISO 14721:2012, as well as future related International Standards, are developed in open forums, and it does not imply that access to the archive is unrestricted. ISO 14721:2012

• provides a framework for the understanding and increased awareness of archival concepts needed for long term digital information preservation and access,
• provides the concepts needed by non-archival organizations to be effective participants in the preservation process,
• provides a framework, including terminology and concepts, for describing and comparing architectures and operations of existing and future archives,
• provides a framework for describing and comparing different Long Term Preservation strategies and techniques,
• provides a basis for comparing the data models of digital information preserved by archives and for discussing how data models and the underlying information may change over time,
• provides a framework that may be expanded by other efforts to cover long term preservation of information that is not in digital form (e.g. physical media and physical samples),
• expands consensus on the elements and processes for long term digital information preservation and access, and promotes a larger market which vendors can support, and
• guides the identification and production of OAIS-related standards.