Q59: How do you design for privacy and data deletion?

Difficulty:AdvancedTopic:Security

Classify personal data, minimize collection, define retention, and enforce access controls and audit trails. Track where data is copied into caches, search indexes, analytics, logs, backups, and downstream services. A deletion workflow should remove or anonymize eligible copies and record completion; backup expiry and legal retention may require separate handling. Avoid putting sensitive personal data into immutable events or logs unless the design supports appropriate redaction or cryptographic erasure.

Key Takeaways
  • Map data lineage, not just the primary database.
  • Deletion and retention requirements must include derived systems and backups.