Backup Lifecycle Management

Backup retention policies must balance business needs, regulatory requirements, and security risks. Longer retention provides better recovery options but increases security exposure and storage costs. Automated lifecycle management ensures consistent policy application, moving older backups to cheaper storage tiers while maintaining security controls.

Deletion of expired backups requires careful implementation to ensure complete removal. Crypto-shredding—deleting encryption keys rather than data—provides efficient deletion for large datasets but requires robust key management. Physical destruction may be necessary for high-security environments, with documented chain of custody maintaining accountability.