Overview
Data Retention policies define what data an organization needs to keep, how long it needs to keep it, and where it should be stored. These policies are essential for compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or Sarbanes-Oxley, as well as for operational needs and historical analysis.
Key Components of a Policy
- Data Classification: Identifying different types of data and their sensitivity.
- Retention Periods: Specifying the duration for which each class of data must be kept.
- Storage Requirements: Defining the type of storage (e.g., hot vs. cold) based on access needs.
- Disposal Procedures: Outlining how data should be securely deleted at the end of its retention period.
Benefits
- Regulatory compliance.
- Reduced storage costs by deleting unnecessary data.
- Improved system performance.