Most organisations have a process for creating and collecting data. Very few have an equally robust process for what happens to it at every subsequent stage. That gap, between data creation and data disposal, is where risk accumulates silently over time.
The Six Stages Of The Data Lifecycle
- Create: Data is generated, collected, or received from external sources
- Store: Data is saved to a system: database, cloud storage, or email archive
- Use: Data is accessed, processed, and applied to business operations
- Share: Data is transmitted to other teams, systems, or third parties
- Archive: Data is moved to long-term storage, often with reduced access controls
- Destroy: Data is permanently and verifiably deleted when it’s no longer needed
Where Organisations Go Wrong
The most common failure point is the transition from Archive to Destroy. Data goes into archives and never comes out. It accumulates indefinitely, often with weaker security controls than active systems, and frequently contains personal information that privacy law requires you to delete.
“Set and forget” retention policies, or no policy at all, mean you’re not managing your data lifecycle. You’re just letting it grow.
DPC’s Lifecycle Assessment maps every stage for your organisation and gives you a clear, prioritised plan for closing the gaps. The result is a data estate that’s smaller, cleaner, and significantly lower risk.
Ready to get your data lifecycle under control? Lifecycle Assessment →