Which Role Implements Data Retention Standards?

SY0-701 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

B Custodian

Question

An IT administrator needs to ensure data retention standards are implemented on an enterprise application. Which of the following describes the administrator’s role?
  1. Processor
  2. Custodian Correct Answer
  3. Privacy officer
  4. Owner

Key Takeaways

Tests knowledge of data stewardship responsibilities, with the common trap being confusion between the policy-setting Data Owner and the policy-executing Data Custodian.

This question evaluates understanding of data governance roles, specifically distinguishing between policy definition and technical implementation. Community consensus confirms that IT administrators enforcing retention standards function as data custodians.

Common mistake: Option A (Processor) is frequently selected incorrectly when candidates mistake internal administrative duties for third-party data handling responsibilities.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The data custodian is responsible for the day-to-day handling, storage, and protection of data according to directives established by the data owner. Implementing data retention standards, managing archival workflows, and applying technical controls fall squarely within the custodian’s operational mandate. As highlighted in the community discussion, custodians translate high-level retention requirements into actionable administrative procedures.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

The data owner defines classification levels and retention policies but delegates execution to others. A privacy officer focuses on regulatory compliance, data subject rights, and legal adherence rather than technical implementation. A processor refers to external vendors handling data on behalf of a controller, which does not align with an internal IT administrator’s scope. Candidates often misassign ownership versus execution responsibilities.

Community Comment Notes

Users consistently emphasize that custodians manage and maintain data on behalf of owners, directly addressing the implementation focus of the question. One highly rated comment clarifies the boundary between processors, custodians, and privacy officers, noting that custodians handle daily safeguarding and retention enforcement. Another contributor reinforces that deploying retention standards is a textbook custodian duty in enterprise security frameworks.

Official Reference

https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework/resources/data-classification

This link opens the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

When answering data governance questions, immediately determine if the scenario describes policy creation or policy execution. Memorize the functional split between Owners (define) and Custodians (implement) to rapidly filter out irrelevant roles like Privacy Officers or Processors.

Community Votes

B
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. chasingsummer 👍 5 Answered B
    The role of a custodian involves managing and maintaining data on behalf of the data owner. The custodian is responsible for implementing the policies and procedures related to data retention, ensuring that data is stored, archived, or disposed of according to organizational and regulatory standards.
  2. 9149f41 👍 1 Answered B
    Processor: A company or person that processes data on behalf of someone else (the "Owner" or "Controller"). Custodian: A person or entity responsible for safeguarding and managing data on a day-to-day basis. Responsibility: Protects data from unauthorized access, loss, or damage. Privacy Officer: A person (or role) in an organization responsible for ensuring compliance with privacy laws and policies. Owner: The person, company or organization that owns the data and decides how it should be used.
  3. NetRunner666 👍 1
    B. Custodian

Reader comments & corrections

No reader corrections yet — spotted an error or have a note? Share it below.

Log in to comment, report an error, or add a note about this question.

CCTV and Surveillance Signs as Security Controls

S-grade

When Should an Engineer Decommission a Network Device?

S-grade

Which Controls Secure Remote Access to Sensitive PHI Applications?

S-grade

Which Zero Trust Component Belongs to the Data Plane?

S-grade

Practice All SY0-701 Questions

Access 100 questions with complete answers and detailed explanations.

View Full SY0-701 Practice Test →

← Back to SY0-701 Study Guide