The data lifecycle is a critical process that businesses must understand in order to efficiently store and manage large volumes of data from creation to disposal. The lifecycle consists of eight phases: data creation and collection, storage, processing and organization, analysis, visualization and reporting, maintenance and updating, archival and retention, and finally, data disposal and destruction. Each phase plays a key role in ensuring data quality, accessibility, and security while maintaining compliance standards and working towards organizational goals. Managing the data lifecycle comes with several challenges such as handling large volumes of data, ensuring data quality and consistency, and adapting to changing technologies. To overcome these challenges, businesses must implement best practices such as strong data governance frameworks, automation and AI, and fostering a data-driven culture. Additionally, tools like Acceldata can provide organizations with visibility into their data lifecycle, enabling them to monitor, investigate, and manage the reliability of their data pipelines and infrastructure.