The data retention period for a migration project is an optional parameter set during the project's creation in the SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit. A newly created project, before any migration activities have begun, has the status "Not Started". This setting determines how long the data in the staging tables will be kept after the project is finished. It is configured at the beginning to establish the data governance rules for the project's entire lifecycle, ensuring compliance and proper data management from the outset.

A. When the project status is "Completed": This status indicates the project is finalized and archived; settings cannot be changed at this stage.

B. When the project status is "Finished": This status means all migration objects are processed; it is too late to define the data retention policy.

C. When the project status is "In Progress": The retention period is a foundational setting defined during creation, not while migration activities are actively running.

1. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

Creating a Migration Project: In the procedure for creating a new migration project using staging tables

Step 5 explicitly lists "Data Retention Period" as an optional field to be filled in during the creation process. A project that has just been created has the status "Not Started".

Source: SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA 2023

"Migrate Data Using Staging Tables"

Section: "Creating a Migration Project".

2. SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA Cloud

Public Edition 2402

Creating a Migration Project: The documentation for the cloud edition also confirms this. When using the "Migrate Your Data – Migration Cockpit" app

the "Data Retention Period" is specified on the "New Project" screen.

Source: SAP Help Portal

SAP S/4HANA Cloud

Public Edition 2402

"SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit"

Section: "Creating a Migration Project".

3. OpenSAP Courseware

Migrating Your Business Data to SAP S/4HANA – New Implementation Scenario: Course demonstrations show that the "Data Retention Period" field is part of the initial project creation screen. Once created and before any data is loaded or processed

the project's status is "Not Started".

Source: OpenSAP Course

"Migrating Your Business Data to SAP S/4HANA – New Implementation Scenario"

Week 2

Unit 3: "SAP S/4HANA Migration Cockpit – Staging Approach".