Data Retention and Disposal Policy

A Data Retention and Disposal Policy is a document that defines an organization’s guidelines and requirements for the retention, storage, and disposal of various types of data and information. The policy typically includes the classification of data based on its sensitivity, criticality, and legal or regulatory requirements, the retention periods for each data class, based on business needs, legal obligations, and industry standards, the storage and protection methods for each data class, such as encryption, access controls, and backup and recovery, and the disposal methods for each data class, such as secure deletion, physical destruction, and third-party certification. The purpose of the policy is to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization’s data, comply with relevant laws and regulations, such as data privacy and records management, and optimize the use of storage and computing resources. The policy is usually developed by the information governance or compliance team, in consultation with legal counsel and business stakeholders, and is communicated and enforced throughout the organization.