By default, the platform retains all business data indefinitely. Data Retention policies allow you to configure automatic deletion of historical records on a per-object basis. This can help enforce data governance rules, keep large objects performant, and prevent outdated records from being accessed.
Data Retention is not enabled by default. You must raise a support request to enable it for each instance where it is required.
How It Works
A Data Retention policy is configured at the object level and defines three things: the target attribute (a date field used to assess record age), the retention period in days, and the maximum number of records to delete per day.
The target attribute must be of type Date, DateTime, or Timestamp. Each day at midnight in the instance timezone, the platform compares the value of the target attribute on each record against the current date. Records where the difference exceeds the retention period are marked for deletion, up to the daily limit.
Setting a daily deletion limit is important when applying retention retrospectively to a large object — without a limit, a large initial deletion could affect performance.
Configuring Data Retention
Open the Configuration application.
Navigate to System \> Data Retention Configuration.
Select New.
Select the object and target attribute, displayed in the format
object::attribute.Enter the number of days to retain records.
Enter the maximum number of records to delete per day.
Save the configuration.
Objects without a Data Retention configuration retain all records unless deleted manually.