# How should I choose an object retention or lifecycle policy?

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HELP CENTER · FAQ Object Storage 1 min read
# How should I choose an object retention or lifecycle policy?
Base retention on the data's purpose, legal or business requirements, and recovery needs. Confirm the storage service's actual lifecycle behavior before applying rules that expire, archive, or delete objects.
IaGenify
Object Storage

## Define what must be kept and for how long
Separate temporary uploads, active application files, and records that need long-term retention. Each category may have a different recovery window and access pattern, so avoid one broad rule for every object.
Check whether policy applies by bucket, prefix, tag, or object age, and how it treats versions or incomplete uploads. A rule with the wrong scope can remove files that an application still references.
## Test the policy before broad rollout
Preview or simulate affected keys if the service offers that capability. Otherwise, begin with a small test prefix and confirm which objects would transition or expire before enabling the rule on production data.
Document the owner, purpose, and review date for important policies. Confirm that backups or legal holds are handled separately where required, and monitor lifecycle actions so unexpected removals are detected promptly. [← Back to Object Storage FAQs](https://help.iagenify.com/faqs/object-storage)