Patent ID: 7748045

Claim:
A method of providing automated document retention for an electronic document comprising: assigning a document retention policy to the electronic document, the document retention policy being derived from a recurring cut-off retention schedule specifying cut-off periods, each cut-off period having a respective document retention duration associated therewith and corresponding to a respective maximum off-line period of a client, wherein the maximum off-line period expires a predetermined period of time after a beginning of its cut-off period; encrypting the electronic document using cryptographic keys associated with particular cut-off periods, associated retention durations, and corresponding maximum off-line periods, wherein the encrypting is based on the document retention policy such that the electronic document can be cryptographically accessed using the cryptographic keys during retention durations and prior to the expiration of the maximum off-line period of the client; and deactivating the cryptographic keys when the respective document retention duration has expired, thereby preventing further access to the electronic document.