As John said, it depends. In our situation, if the test data was part of a 
large-scale procurement (eg over $200,000), it would in effect be part of 
the contract and acceptance testing for the software system, and the 
retention would be life of system plus seven years. Especially if you 
thought that a dispute with the vendor was possible. But you could do some 
sort of quality assured print to paper and store the paper for life plus 
seven, rather than keeping the data in machine readable form. We are 
talking possible evidence here, not something you might need again for 
recurring business purposes.

If the testing and hence the data were for a minor procurement (eg below 
$200,000), and if the testing went ok, was fully documented and was signed 
off by both parties, then you could probably ditch the actual data after 
the warranty period ran out, just keeping the records that show testing 
took place.

Cheers

Glenn

Glenn Sanders MRMA
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Australia

These views are mine alone. They may or may not be those of any
previous or present employers or clients. I don't know. If I'd asked
and they'd agreed, I would have signed it "Harry Peck & Co and
Glenn". Or whatever. But I haven't, so I didn't.



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