Documenting Data Lifecycles
Learn how to document how data moves through your systems from creation to deletion using data lifecycle blocks.
Compliance audits ask difficult questions: Where is customer data stored? Who can access it? How long do you keep it? When do you delete it? Data lifecycle blocks capture these answers in a structured format that satisfies auditors and helps engineers understand data flows.
Why Document Data Lifecycles
Data governance is not optional in regulated industries:
Adding a Data Lifecycle Block
Data Lifecycle Fields
This example uses the NeoArc Data Lifecycle content block.
Data Classification Levels
NeoArc supports four classification levels:
| Classification | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Public | Can be shared freely | Marketing content, public documentation |
| Internal | For internal use only | Internal metrics, employee directories |
| Confidential | Restricted access, business sensitive | Customer data, financial records |
| Restricted | Highest protection, regulated data | Payment card data, health records |
This example uses the NeoArc Data Lifecycle content block.
Connecting to Compliance Requirements
This documentation site includes data lifecycle blocks wherever we document data flows, demonstrating how to integrate lifecycle documentation with other architecture content.