Which term describes information retained for legal, regulatory, or business reasons?

The term that describes information retained for legal, regulatory, or business reasons is "record." In the context of information management and compliance, a record refers to any document or piece of information that is created or received in the course of business activities and is preserved for its value, either for legal compliance, accountability, or organizational memory. Records can include anything from contracts and financial documents to emails and reports that have significance or need to be referenced in the future.

The legal and regulatory frameworks often require organizations to maintain certain records for specific durations, ensuring they're accessible if needed for audits, litigation, or compliance purposes. This is distinct from other terms like document, file, or asset, which do not explicitly capture the requirement for retention due to legal or regulatory obligations. While a document might contain information and a file could be a collection of documents, the essence of a record is its purpose and requirement to be retained in accordance with established laws and policies.