Common Questions About Slack Data Governance

Companies rely on Slack every day to share information, make decisions, and keep projects moving. But as Slack becomes a central record of business activity, leaders need clear rules for how long messages and files should be kept, who can access them, and how exports are handled. This is where Slack governance and Slack data retention policies come in.

Below are answers to the most common questions about Slack data governance.

Does our company’s data retention policy cover Slack?

Yes. If your business is subject to industry or regional rules on how long records must be kept, those requirements usually extend to Slack conversations and files as well. Slack is often considered part of the corporate record, just like email. That means your company’s slack data retention policy should spell out how long messages, channels, and shared documents stay accessible before being removed.

What is Slack data governance about?

‍“Slack data governance is about setting clear rules for how conversations and files are stored, accessed, and managed over time.”

Slack data governance refers to the rules your company sets for how conversations, files, and user activity in Slack are stored, accessed, and managed over time. It covers everything from Slack data retention policies to data loss prevention tools that reduce the risk of sensitive information leaving the company.

What kind of risks do Slack data contain?

Slack holds a mix of casual chat, project files, and sensitive business details. That can include customer information, HR conversations, contracts, or financial notes. Without clear slack governance and safeguards like slack data loss prevention, the risks range from accidental sharing of private information, to retaining more data than regulations allow, to challenges producing records during legal discovery. Managing retention and access limits these risks while keeping work moving smoothly.

What are Slack’s built-in retention options?

How do data retention policies work?

A Slack data retention policy allows admins to set how long messages and files are kept before being deleted. For example, you may decide that direct messages are removed after 90 days but project channels are retained for 1 year.

Retention can help reduce storage costs, limit risk in legal disputes, and keep records tidy.

Can we download Slack data?

Yes. Workspace Owners and Admins can download Slack data in different ways depending on the plan:

• Free, Pro, and Business+: Standard exports include only public channels.
• Enterprise Grid: Organizations may request Discovery API access, which enables broader Slack data export, including private channels and direct messages (with Slack approval).

What about data loss prevention (DLP)?

Slack data loss prevention helps ensure sensitive information (like customer data or financial records) doesn’t get shared outside approved channels.

• Enterprise Grid: Slack supports DLP integrations that can block, alert, or redact certain data.
• Other plans: Companies usually rely on training and policy reminders to reduce risk.

Who should set these policies?

Data governance in Slack usually involves collaboration between:

Key Takeaway

Good Slack governance doesn’t mean keeping everything forever—or deleting everything right away. It means choosing retention and export settings that match your company’s compliance needs, risk tolerance, and communication style. Setting a clear Slack data governance framework will help your team stay organized, compliant, and secure.