3. Regulatory implications

Think of this as the zoning ordinances. What can you grow in the front yard, and where can you plant trees? Are there laws and regulations that add to the information's import? Consider local, state and federal requirements that will affect how you care for and prune the data and whether you hand out cuttings to the neighbours.

FLOWERS AND SEEDS

Now your data enters its useful stage of life. It might seed new business plans, attract customers or produce revenue. The classification helps determine your gardening style. Perhaps classified information should always be encrypted, and mission-critical information is constantly backed up.

Remember, as the information grows, it continues to change shape. For instance, the details of a company's annual report may be confidential or even classified at first, but once it's released to shareholders, it's public information.

MATURITY

The growing phase ends, but the plant remains. Once it no longer serves a business purpose, consider retention requirements. The most important records may need to become part of the fossil record. Most, however, will have a period of decline - document retention - measured in years.

DEATH

Time for clearing away. When the information has outlived both its usefulness and regulatory importance, make space for something new. Compost everything you can, and throw away or burn everything else. Some possible guidelines:

Public information - Hit the delete key, and then forget about it.

Business information - Hit the delete key. Then, when the PC, server, or storage mechanism or server is retired, make sure it is degaussed (a process of magnetically erasing information).

Confidential information or classified information - Make sure that either the storage device is shredded or burned or that the information on it is destroyed to US Department of Defence standards.