---
title: How are ID documents stored?
description: How are ID documents stored - Encrypted at rest and securely stored for 7 years in AWS Sydney.
---

[Skip to content](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-are-id-documents-stored#main-content)

English - Australia

Show submenu for translations

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English - Australia
  
  Show submenu for translations

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [easyAML Help Centre](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/?hsLang=en-au)
2. [FAQs](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au)
3. [General](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#general)

# How are ID documents stored?

## Encrypted at rest within AWS Sydney for 7 years; access is restricted to the originating CO or CDD User.

**Encrypted at rest and securely stored for 7 years** in AWS Sydney. Encryption uses AES-256 (industry standard); access controls restrict viewing to:

- **The original Compliance Officer / CDD User** who initiated or reviewed the transaction.
- **The customer's external auditor** (read-only) during the retention period.
- **easyAML support staff** under formal access-control procedures, audit-logged, and only where required to resolve a specific support request.

**Subscribers don't need to retain client passports/licences in their own systems.** easyAML is the system of record for the CDD evidence - holding copies of ID documents on the firm's own servers, in email, or in shared drives **isn't required** and is **generally a privacy and security liability**. AUSTRAC's record-keeping obligation is satisfied by the data being held by easyAML on the firm's behalf.

This is one of the often-overlooked advantages of using a compliance platform vs. running CDD manually: firms that previously kept scanned passports in their document management systems can confidently delete those copies once the easyAML record exists, reducing their own privacy exposure.

---

### Related articles

- [Client Verification FAQs](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/client-verification-faqs?hsLang=en-au)
- [How long do I need to keep records for?](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/record-keeping-periods?hsLang=en-au)
- [If a customer cancels, can they still access their records?](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/record-access-after-cancelling?hsLang=en-au)
- [Does easyAML support foreign-language passports?](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/does-easyaml-support-foreign-language-passports?hsLang=en-au)
- [What is the difference between the CDD role and the front-line staff role?](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/what-is-the-difference-between-the-cdd-role-and-the-front-line-staff-role?hsLang=en-au)

- [easyAML Set-up Checklist](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/easyaml-set-up-checklist?hsLang=en-au)
- [Training Videos](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/training-videos?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Register for Upcoming Webinars](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/training-videos?hsLang=en-au#register-for-upcoming-webinars)
    - [Previously Recorded Webinars](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/training-videos?hsLang=en-au#previously-recorded-webinars)
- [FAQs](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [General](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#general)
    - [AML/CTF basics](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#aml-ctf-basics)
    - [Getting started](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#getting-started)
    - [Compliance Program](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#compliance-program)
    - [Customer Due Diligence (CDD)](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#customer-due-diligence-cdd)
    - [Training](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#training)
    - [Reporting](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#reporting)
    - [Sector Coverage](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#sector-coverage)
    - [Pricing & Plans](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#pricing-plans)
    - [Sales & Onboarding](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#sales-onboarding)
    - [Trusts & Complex Structures](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#trusts-complex-structures)
    - [Reliance & KYC Sharing](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#reliance-kyc-sharing)
    - [ACMA SMS Sender ID Register](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#acma-sms-sender-id-register)
    - [Quick Answers](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/faqs?hsLang=en-au#quick-answers)
- [How-to Guides](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Tasks](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#tasks)
    - [Transactions](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#transactions)
    - [Entities](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#entities)
    - [Insights](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#insights)
    - [Training](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#training)
    - [Compliance](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#compliance)
    - [Reports](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#reports)
    - [Account Settings](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#account-settings)
    - [Billing & Plans](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/how-to-guides?hsLang=en-au#billing-plans)
- [KYC Information](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/kyc-information?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Client Resources](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/kyc-information?hsLang=en-au#client-resources)
    - [Person being verified](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/kyc-information?hsLang=en-au#person-being-verified)
- [Glossary](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/glossary?hsLang=en-au)
- [Integrations](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [General](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#general)
    - [Action Step](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#action-step)
    - [Clio](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#clio)
    - [XPM](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#xpm)
    - [Scantek](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/integrations?hsLang=en-au#scantek)
- [News Feed](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/news-feed?hsLang=en-au#main-content)

    - [Latest Release Notes](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/news-feed?hsLang=en-au#latest-release-notes)
- [Support](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/support?hsLang=en-au)

[![easyAML-Logo\_Magenta](https://knowledge.easyaml.com/hs-fs/hubfs/easyAML-Logo_Magenta.png?width=200&height=47&name=easyAML-Logo_Magenta.png "easyAML-Logo_Magenta")](https://easyaml.com/)

Copyright © 2026, easyAML