Data Storage & Retention
Noctune stores three things: your audio recordings, the transcripts derived from them, and the SOAP notes you edit. This page explains where each lives, how long, and what it costs to keep old material accessible.
Where your data lives
| Data | Where it’s stored | Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Audio files | AWS S3 (US region) | AES-256 at rest, TLS in transit |
| Transcripts | Postgres (managed, US region) | AES-256 at rest |
| SOAP notes | Postgres (managed, US region) | AES-256 at rest |
| Metadata (patient names, dates) | Postgres | AES-256 at rest |
All data is stored in the United States. We don’t replicate to other regions without explicit customer request.
Retention windows
Included in every plan:
| Data | Retention | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Audio files | 90 days active | Auto-moved to archival tier after the window |
| Transcripts | Indefinite | Small enough that storage is effectively free |
| SOAP notes | Indefinite | Same as transcripts |
| Messages (Nest inbox) | Indefinite |
Your SOAP notes and transcripts are kept for as long as you have an account — you never lose the record of what was said.
Archival tier and post-retention access
After the audio retention window, your raw audio is moved to a cheaper archival tier (AWS S3 Intelligent-Tiering). You can still access it, but with two changes:
- Restoration takes a few minutes — the file has to thaw before playback or reprocessing.
- There’s a small per-request cost to restore, passed through on your next invoice.
Transcripts and SOAP notes are never archived — they remain instantly accessible for the life of your account.
Why: Raw audio is by far the bulk of storage cost. Archival cuts ongoing storage fees by ~90% without touching the structured data you actually reference day-to-day.
Deleting data
You can delete any encounter from its detail page. This removes the audio, transcript, SOAP note, and messages associated with it. Deletion is permanent and happens within 30 days across all backups.
Account closure
Closing your account deletes everything within 30 days. Request an export first (Settings → Billing → Request data export) if you want a copy.
Compliance
Noctune follows healthcare-adjacent data handling practices. Veterinary records are not covered by HIPAA in the US, but we apply equivalent controls: encryption, access logging, role-based permissions, and audit trails. Contact support for a compliance brief if you need one for a corporate procurement review.