Best Practices for Data Minimization

Data minimization is a principle that requires collecting only the relevant data for as long as it serves a purpose. Data minimization is one of the fundamental principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

It offers a list of benefits, including increased data safety, faster data processing, and more optimal storage. When you minimize data, you reduce certain risks, help the app run faster, and avoid creating large data sets.

All data you import and store in Plecto must be relevant and fulfill a purpose. It is relevant if you use it to build formulas, display it on dashboards and in reports, or actively use it in another way. All other data is passive and creates an unnecessary clutter that, in some cases, may impede the app's performance.

Reevaluate what you need to build dashboards and reports, and remove the rest. Here's how to remove fields from a data source (you can always add them back):

1. Go to Data management > Data sources and open your data source settings.
2. Scroll down to the section FIELDS and uncheck the fields you no longer want to import.
3. Click Save in the bottom-right corner.

Don't store old data if you don't need it. Plecto can automatically delete registrations from your data sources after a certain period of time. All you need is to select how long you want us to keep registrations in your data source. Here's how to add a data retention period:

1. Go to Data management > Data sources and open your data source settings.
2. Select a Data retention period from the dropdown. Plecto will automatically delete all registrations older than the selected period.
3. To finish, click Save in the bottom-right corner.