Final answer:
Data retention periods pertain to sensitive and proprietary data, requiring organizations to maintain information for a specified length of time to comply with laws and manage risks related to data security.
Step-by-step explanation:
Data retention periods apply to sensitive and proprietary data, among other types. These periods specify how long a company or organization should keep data before it is destroyed or deleted.
Data retention policies are particularly important for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and they can vary greatly depending on the type of data, the industry, and the geographical location of the business. While encrypted data is often held to high security standards, retention policies don't apply exclusively to it. Similarly, public data does not inherently have shorter or less strict retention periods.
It's important for businesses to follow these policies not only to comply with laws but also to manage risks associated with data breaches and protect intellectual property.