How many years can I keep customer data? Can I just trash it? What does KVKK say?

max 5 years for keeping customer data then delete then tax law says 5 years, but thats not for customer data. ask kvkk or a legal consultant, theyll tell you the right thing. if it stys in backups you need to get a destruction certificate...

Data retention policy: 1) Define retention period (purpose-based, compliance-based), 2) Automated deletion (database triggers, scheduled jobs), 3) Backup lifecycle (incremental overwrite after retention), 4) Archival (offline storage, if long-term retention needed), 5) Purge verification (before/after counts). GDPR: right to erasure (GDPR Article 17), backup retention (technical limitation documented). Turkish law: tax 5 years, consumer 2 years (non-food). Consultant: writing a data processing policy, creating a retention matrix.

delete customer data after 5 years, that's what KVKK says. even if it stays in backups it's a problem set up a rotation schedule and overwrite it. if the tax inspector asked for 5 years, keep the tax records, but if the customer says 'delete me', delete it immediately. get legal advice first, then you'll be chill...

Data lifecycle management: 1) Collection (purpose), 2) Processing (necessary duration), 3) Retention (legal requirement + practicality), 4) Deletion (secure, verifiable), 5) Audit. Retention matrix: customer data (2-5 years), transaction logs (5 years for tax), personally identifiable information (delete after purpose is served). Destruction: database deletion (logical), secure overwrite (physical hard drive), destruction certificate (third party). KVKK Article 3: 'personal data subject to processing principles' — cessation of processing = cessation of retention.

I can't fully agree with this. Having backups accessible on the same network and with the same identity makes them part of the target.

Hope this helps.

I've been dealing with this for a long time. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

I'll try it.

Three different views emerged, they all complement each other. Most incidents start with a leaked password, not a vulnerability.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

I've been down this road, let me tell you. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

You're right, I've been down that road too. When we decide without measuring, we always end up in the same place.

I have a question. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.

If I were you I'd go this route.

let me summarize what's been said so far.. then any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

correct me if I'm wrong.

exactly and not many people know this. like if 2FA is on a stolen password alone is useless.

when we decde without measuring, we always end up in the same place. of course it varies if your situation is different.

i'm a small business let me explain from my side.. and btw taking notes for two weeks yields better results than a six-month estimate.

correct me if Im wrong.

Timely topic.

You're right. Mistakes made on the customer data retention period side are usually reversible but expensive.

This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

Could you elaborate on that? Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late.

This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

Let me summarize what's been said so far. Your time to detect an issue directly determines its cost.

Payment information changes are never verified through the channel they came from. Of course it varies if your situation is different.