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Home/Blog/What is Data Lifecycle Management? Stages, Policies & Best Practices
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What is Data Lifecycle Management? Stages, Policies & Best Practices

Data lifecycle management explained: the stages of the data lifecycle (creation to disposal), retention policies, records management, and CDMP exam coverage.

CDMP Master Academy·5 May 2025·8 min read

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A professional-level summary covering key definitions, frameworks, and exam-relevant points.

Data Lifecycle Stages and Management Activities

StageKey ActivitiesGovernance Focus
Creation/AcquisitionData entry, system generation, data purchaseQuality controls; classification; ownership assignment
StorageDatabase storage, file storage, cloud storageSecurity; access control; backup
UsageOperational use, analytics, reportingAccess management; quality monitoring; lineage tracking
ArchivingMove to archive storage; reduce accessRetention policy enforcement; metadata preservation
DisposalSecure deletion, physical destructionCompliance verification; disposal records; audit trail

CDMP Exam Relevance

Data lifecycle management is tested across multiple CDMP knowledge areas, particularly Data Storage & Operations (6%), Data Security (6%), and Document & Content Management (6%). Key exam topics include: the stages of the data lifecycle, the purpose and components of data retention policies, the difference between archiving and disposal, and the governance activities required at each lifecycle stage. Records management — the management of documents and records throughout their lifecycle — is a closely related concept tested in the Document & Content Management knowledge area.

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