Start with Business Processes
Map customer onboarding, marketing, sales, support, HR, finance, and analytics processes.
Last Updated: May 2026
Purpose
Why Data Mapping Comes First
You cannot protect what you cannot see. Data mapping helps businesses understand where personal data is collected, stored, shared, accessed, retained, and deleted.
This becomes the foundation for DPDP readiness, consent governance, vendor reviews, and privacy-by-design.
Checklist
Data Mapping Areas to Capture
Data collection points
Systems and databases
Internal access owners
Third-party vendors
Storage locations
Retention periods
Analytics and reporting usage
Deletion and archival flows
Implementation
How to Start Mapping Data
Interview System Owners
Identify where teams actually store, export, share, and analyze personal data.
Connect to Vendors
Document SaaS tools, cloud providers, analytics tools, processors, and external platforms.