What is the purpose of a data retention policy?

The purpose of a data retention policy is to outline how long data should be kept. Such a policy provides clear guidelines on the duration for which different types of data must be retained before they can be disposed of or archived. This is crucial for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as for effective data management practices.

Having a well-defined data retention policy helps organizations minimize risks associated with data retention, such as potential data breaches or non-compliance with data laws. Additionally, it aids in efficient data storage management by ensuring that outdated information is disposed of in a timely manner, thus optimizing both storage resources and access to relevant data.

While other choices touch on aspects of data management, they do not capture the core intention of a data retention policy, which is specifically concerned with the timeframes for which data is held.