Linda

The correct answer is, of course, "it depends".

I assume that in your testing envionment, you start off with a copy of
production data (or a reasonable subset), and then do stuff with it -
retreive, edit, add, delete etc.

I also assume that you have taken steps to depersonalise any personal
identifiers, delete any sensitive information, etc.

If the storage is a problem, then what I would do would be to cost how much
it would take to recreate the testing environment.  If it would cost more to
generate the copy (or subset) of the data than the costs involved in storing
the data for a length of time, then the answer is obvious - do not store the
data after the testing is signed off.  If the costs are the other way round
(it costs more to recreate the data than to store it), then keep the test
data in the test environment.

Your "copy of record" should be in the production system - not the test
environment, so there should be no rational reason why the test data should
be kept for any longer than economically viable.

Just a thought from down under, where 75.93% of people think that I am witty
too.  At least thats what I think they mean when they say that I am a "great
wit".

John Lovejoy
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I speak for me, not for them

-----Original Message-----
Date:    Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:41:57 -0600
From:    "Long, Linda E" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Testbed Data

We have a process that any upgrade to a system has to be tested and
approved before the change can go into production. The software may be
inhouse-developed or upgrades to off-the-self software.

We find that the data on the test sites are taking up a lot of space and
would like to provide some guidelines or timeframes as to how long the
data can exist. Many test sites are used infrequently, but data remains
on the testbed until the system is tested again - potentially years
later.
Does any one have any opinions or ideas on the management / retention of
testbed data?
Thanks,
Linda E Long, CRM
BellSouth Records & Information Management
404-249-2546

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