Glossary
Data Retention
Data retention is deciding how long to keep different types of information - like knowing when to throw away old receipts versus keeping tax documents for years.
What is Data Retention?
Policies and practices that govern how long data is kept before being securely deleted or archived, based on legal, regulatory, and business requirements.
Why Should You Care?
Proper data retention balances compliance requirements with storage costs and privacy obligations. Over-retention creates unnecessary risk.
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Real-World Example
A financial services firm retains transaction records for 7 years per SEC requirements but deletes marketing emails after 1 year.
How to Protect Against Data Retention
- 1.
Document data retention requirements by data type
- 2.
Implement automated data lifecycle management
Related Terms
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