Most tools can delete data. Almost none can do it safely.
Enterprise deletion is not a one-click task. It involves review, validation, legal checks, auditability, and sometimes the ability to reverse a decision. Without those safeguards, deletion becomes risky, unpredictable, and difficult to explain.
BigID is the first and only platform that enables secure, controlled, and accountable deletion across the full data lifecycle.
Why Deletion Needs a Workflow
Deleting a file sounds easy until that file is under legal hold, part of a downstream process, or contains data someone thought was still in use.
Before deletion, organizations need to:
- Identify who owns the data
- Provide visibility into what is being deleted
- Offer clear reasoning behind the flag
- Ensure proper authorization and access controls
- Track approvals and actions
BigID builds this review and approval workflow directly into the platform. No more guessing. No more risky automation. Just control, context, and traceability.
Role-Based Access and Data Owner Review
Deletion should never happen without the right eyes on the data.
With BigID, data owners receive:
- A precise locator to the flagged data
- A secure preview of the content
- A plain-language explanation of why it’s been selected
- Options to approve, reject, or defer the action
- Full audit tracking for every decision
All of this is governed by role-based access controls, so users only see what they’re authorized to review.
BigID also integrates with Jira and ServiceNow to plug directly into existing workflow tools.
Tombstoning: Show What Was Removed, and Why
When data is deleted, others need to know that it was intentional — not accidental.
That’s where tombstoning comes in. BigID creates a stub or placeholder where the data was, with a note about why it was removed and what policy applied.
This prevents confusion, broken processes, or data owners wondering where something went.
Tombstones are searchable, trackable, and help teams maintain confidence in their environment even after data is removed.
Cold Storage and Archiving When Deletion Isn’t an Option
Sometimes you can’t delete data — yet. Maybe it’s under investigation. Maybe there’s a legal hold. Maybe your policy says retain, but your business says not now.
BigID supports cold storage, sandboxing, and archive workflows as alternatives to immediate deletion.
You can isolate the data, mark it for review, or move it to a staging area before a final action is taken. That gives teams the flexibility to act with control and precision instead of making irreversible decisions too early.
Restore When Needed
Deletion should be definitive, but not always permanent. Mistakes happen. Holds are lifted. New evidence comes to light.
BigID is the only solution that lets you restore data that was previously moved, archived, or flagged — with full context and audit trail.
This level of flexibility is essential for legal, privacy, and governance teams that need options, not hard stops.
Deletion Without Guardrails Is Just Risk
Too many organizations delay deletion because they don’t trust their tools — and they’re right. Without workflow, context, and auditability, deletion can do more harm than good.
BigID changes that by offering:
- Review and approval for every deletion request
- Legal hold and policy conflict detection
- Integrated tombstoning
- Cold storage and archival options
- Full restore capabilities
- End-to-end audit logging
BigID is the first and only platform that turns deletion into a safe, governed, and reversible action — not a risky bet.
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