When disposing of data, which of the following should be considered FIRST?

Company policy requirements are internal guidelines and, while important, must always align with and be subordinate to external legal obligations.

Local legal requirements are paramount because non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, fines, and legal action, making them the most critical factor to address before any internal policies or procedures. These requirements establish the minimum standards for data retention, protection, and destruction that must be adhered to.

Storage requirements relate to how data is kept and accessed, not primarily to its secure disposal.

Disposal requirements are a broad category, but specific local legal mandates are the initial drivers for determining appropriate data disposal methods and documentation.