Planned dispersal of copies of vital records is considered an approved method of protecting vital records. It ensures that even if the originals are damaged or inaccessible due to unforeseen circumstances, there are copies available in different locations. On-site storage in vaults or safes can be effective but might not be sufficient if the site itself is compromised. Natural dispersal is not generally a controlled or reliable method for protection. Protecting the original vital records alone does not inherently include measures to safeguard against loss or damage. Therefore, planned dispersal of copies is the most reliable and approved method.