What is the primary use of Retention Labels in document management?

Retention labels in document management serve the crucial role of determining how long documents should be stored. They are designed to help organizations manage their information effectively by specifying retention periods based on policies, compliance requirements, or organizational needs. By applying retention labels, organizations can ensure that documents are kept for the mandated duration, after which they can be automatically disposed of or archived according to these predefined rules.

This functionality is essential not only for compliance with legal and regulatory standards but also for optimizing storage solutions. Proper retention management can help reduce the risk of keeping unnecessary data, which can burden the storage system and lead to increased costs.

The other aspects related to document management, such as classification for search, encryption, and securing access, while important in their own rights, do not directly pertain to the specific function of retention labels. The primary focus of these labels is on the lifecycle management of documents and ensuring that they are not retained longer than necessary.