Caring for and managing data

Data is an asset with a life cycle. Managing it means protecting quality, availability and confidentiality from capture to deletion.

• Backup strategy: regular, automated, tested restores; keep an off-site or cloud copy (3-2-1 rule).
• Access control: users see only what their role requires; audit trails record who changed what.
• Data quality maintenance: deduplication, correction procedures, validation on entry.
• Archiving moves old data out of live systems; retention policies say how long to keep it.
• Secure disposal: wipe or destroy media; deletion isn't destruction.
• POPIA: safeguard personal data and honour subjects' rights.

• 3-2-1 backup — 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 off-site.
• Audit trail — a log of data access and changes.