Information Lifecycle Management, also called information lifecycle management, is a strategy to information and data management which recognize the value of data over time and which therefore requires it to be well managed. Information Lifecycle Management recognizes the need for information to be available at all times, even during disasters, and works to ensure that this occurs. The life cycle can be defined as the working life of any product or service, from the initial design through to end use. Data lifecycle starts with planning, then data is stored, analyzed, and utilized, and finally analyzed again. Information Lifecycle Management strives to align data across different platforms and devices, ensuring consistent and secure data flows.
An information lifecycle begins with an “Alliance” document that identifies all the devices and applications that will be governed by the policy. This alliance consists of four key sections: Information Lifecycle Policy, Information Lifecycle Control Software, Information Lifecycle Auditing, and Maintenance Plans. In addition to these sections, additional policies may be included to specify how devices and applications should be managed in certain scenarios. The information lifecycle policy contains requirements such as: what controls are necessary at the data entry and exit points, what procedures must be followed in certain scenarios, and what responsibilities are assigned to specific personnel such as network monitors and maintenance managers.
The second part of an information lifecycle management process is achieved through a process called heat mapping. Heat mapping is achieved through the creation of a Gantt chart, which depicts a user interface for managing and identifying lifecycle stages. Each phase of the lifecycle is represented in a separate column on the chart. The heat map depicts user interfaces that exist for each stage of the lifecycle. The next step is for a team of people to discuss and map the relationships among the various phases. Each relationship depicted on a heat map is linked to a department or person within the organization.
The third section is called maintenance planning. This section is related to the previous two sections, but it addresses different issues that arise during the course of software lifecycle management. Maintenance planning focuses on how to implement and maintain the changes that will occur as a result of information management. This includes the implementation of processes and tools that will help businesses achieve their data management goals.
Data management policies and procedures are the core of the information lifecycle solution. Business intelligence (BI) processes are implemented so that business intelligence tasks are properly aligned with organizational objectives and business rules. These tasks must be consistently monitored and controlled. BIN and compliance policies help businesses achieve their data management goals and ensure compliance with the law.
A well-implemented BIN and compliance policy will help businesses ensure that the activities related to creating, processing, storing, analyzing, and utilizing information are done in an accurate, efficient, and consistent manner. The creation of tablespaces and indexes is at the heart of many activities related to creating, processing, and using data. It is necessary for all these activities to be performed consistently. When the application changes are introduced, it is essential for the application to refer to the same tablespace and index repeatedly to process the new changes. Migration from one application to another requires data re-indexing, modification to table spaces, and application redirection.
Creating BIN and compliance policies are not enough. Business policies must also be monitored and maintained. Monitoring and maintaining business policies are the backbone of the information lifecycle management system. Maintaining the policies is like feeding the engine of the business. Only when the engine is running smoothly will the business be more productive. All the processes that are linked to the maintenance of BIN and compliance policies must run smoothly without any break downs or errors.
Partitions are also important as they help in partitioning the business data. By partitioning the business data, you can easily create multiple streams of data in a single database. You can easily access all the relevant information at any point of time. Information Lifecycle Management software plays a critical role in providing the right information to the employees, managers, and business stakeholders through the appropriate storage, access, and deployment of business information.