Retention is one of the core features of data governance on Files.com. It defines how long files, folders, and versions are kept, how deleted content is handled, and how organizations can protect critical files for compliance, audits, or recovery.

Retention is important because files are often updated, replaced, or deleted during normal workflows, and critical files can be lost in the process. Strong retention controls also add protection against security risks such as ransomware, malicious deletions, or large-scale accidental removals. By automatically keeping prior versions or preserving deleted content for a defined period, Files.com helps organizations reduce risk, recover quickly, and maintain reliable access to essential files.

Site Administrators can choose from multiple retention options depending on their business, operational, or compliance needs.

File Expiration automatically deletes files from a folder after a set number of days, helping manage storage and enforce lifecycle policies.

Archive Removed Files preserves files that are deleted or overwritten by moving them into an archive path. This provides a complete version history and protection against permanent data loss without affecting the user’s workflow.

Retaining Deleted Files keeps backup copies of deleted files for a configurable number of days. During this period, Site Administrators can restore deleted content.

Archive Only Mode locks an entire site into a permanent archive state. Files can be created and read but never updated, renamed, or deleted. Once enabled, this mode cannot be turned off and is typically used for strict compliance requirements.

Together, these features give organizations flexible retention options whether the goal is to reduce clutter, safeguard critical files from malicious activity, preserve every version, recover accidentally deleted content, or meet strict regulatory mandates.