For decades, organizations handled record retention by indefinitely retaining all documents received or created by the organization. An increasing number of jurisdictions, however, are making organizations reevaluate this approach. For example, entities subject to the California Public Records Act are required to retain personally identifiable information for no longer than reasonably necessary and only for the specific purpose for which such information was collected. California’s approach to retaining PII flips the longstanding “retain everything” approach on its head and implores businesses to adopt a data minimization strategy. As data breaches become more prevalent and legal exposure from such events continues to grow, an increasing number of jurisdictions, such as Colorado and New Jersey, are enacting privacy laws and regulations that promote data minimization.
It follows that now is an excellent time for an organization to adopt a data minimization strategy or reassess their current approach to record retention. Basic information governance measures such as creating a data map or updating a record retention policy are steps in the right direction towards compliance with the growing number of jurisdictions that are pushing their residents to adopt a data minimization strategy.
If your organization is seeking support with a data minimization strategy or anything else related to information governance, our team has solutions to assist clients in their efforts to maximize the usefulness of information assets while minimizing the cost and risk associated with their use. At CODISCOVR, we deliver client-focused, defensible, and solutions that are tailored to each organization’s specific needs. Reach out to Nicholas Berenato, Information Governance Principal, CODISCOVR. Nick is an attorney that collaborates with clients to address legal and financial exposure from their information assets through information governance. He develops strategies and policies to enable clients to effectively manage their data in a manner that minimizes costs and allows clients to leverage their data to support their business processes.
