# Data Lifecycle

To ensure quality data, you need to manage data throughout its lifecycle. In this guidebook, we reference the data lifecycle below \[1]. This guidebook supports the "Plan and Define" phase.

* **Plan and Define.** How you define the purpose, needs and requirements of the data. How you define the data model and supporting policies and processes.
* **Obtain.** How you create, collect or get the data.
* **Maintain.** How you store, change and track the data.
* **Access and Use.** How you share the data. How people use the data.
* **Dispose.** How you delete the data.

![](https://4034286574-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fc4uzBOqAHDAnePrE7NDL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-92fb1fe7998ec4f8f42e860cb474d17eae2904a8%2FDataLifecycle.png?alt=media)

## Footnotes

\[1] Modified from [Executing Data Quality Projects](https://www.amazon.com/Executing-Data-Quality-Projects-Information/dp/0123743699), McGilvray.