When should a cloud service provider delete customer data?

The correct time for data deletion is after the specified retention period defined by contractual agreements, regulatory frameworks, or internal policies. Retention policies ensure that data is kept for as long as necessary for business, legal, or compliance reasons but not longer than required.

Oversubscription, inactivity, or review cycles are not valid triggers because they may conflict with compliance mandates such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Deleting data prematurely could result in legal penalties or business risks, while keeping it longer than necessary could increase exposure.

By deleting data only after the retention period, providers demonstrate adherence to data governance principles and protect customer rights while minimizing storage costs and liability.