Which statement best describes data lifecycle management?

Which statement best describes data lifecycle management?

• A. A process of backing up data only.
• B. Managing data from creation to deletion with governance and retention policies.
• C. A method of archiving data after 90 days.
• D. A technique for encrypting all data.

Answer: (B)

Data lifecycle management is the end-to-end oversight of data from its creation through its usable life to eventual deletion, guided by governance and retention rules. This means setting and enforcing policies about how data is created, stored, used, archived, and ultimately disposed of, with clear responsibilities and compliance requirements. The idea is to manage data across its entire life, not just perform one isolated task. Why this fits best: it captures the full journey of data and the controls that ensure it remains usable, secure, and compliant at every stage. Backups focus on protection but don’t address the ongoing lifecycle; archiving after a fixed period is just one part of the process; encryption is about security, not lifecycle management.

Data lifecycle management is the end-to-end oversight of data from its creation through its usable life to eventual deletion, guided by governance and retention rules. This means setting and enforcing policies about how data is created, stored, used, archived, and ultimately disposed of, with clear responsibilities and compliance requirements. The idea is to manage data across its entire life, not just perform one isolated task.

Why this fits best: it captures the full journey of data and the controls that ensure it remains usable, secure, and compliant at every stage. Backups focus on protection but don’t address the ongoing lifecycle; archiving after a fixed period is just one part of the process; encryption is about security, not lifecycle management.