Updated: who buys company data, October 2026 →
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Guide

Check retention before planning an export

Verify what is actually available, not just what your software could theoretically retain.

Updated 19 October 2026 · Sources and methodology

Inspect the real account

Retention varies with product, subscription, settings, administrator actions and legal holds. Check the oldest visible record and test a small authorized export. A recent migration can make a long-running business look like a short-lived dataset.

Distinguish visibility from exportability

A search result, backup or archived account may not be available in the same export route. Attachments, threads, custom fields and deleted-user records may need different permissions or methods. Capture those differences in your inventory.

Do not alter retention casually

Changing retention or restoring old backups can introduce security, contractual and legal issues. Coordinate with your administrator and counsel. A potential data deal is not a reason to ignore a deletion obligation or legal hold.

Record evidence

Keep the system, plan, inspected date, oldest exportable record, method, permissions and known gaps. Recheck immediately before delivery. Vendor documentation describes the product; your settings and records determine your actual history.

Your next step

See where your company’s data could fit.

  • Begin with a company description, not an export
  • Review systems, retained history and exclusions
  • Compare the terms before sharing records
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