Example methods and systems provide a system that stores, in a storage device, a file and a descriptor corresponding to the file. The descriptor includes a retention time for the file. The system also sets an archival status retention flag to prevent the deletion of the file from the storage device, notwithstanding the retention time set by the descriptor. The system can transmit a copy of the file to an archive, and when a copy of the file has been safely stored in the archive, the collaboration platform receives an input from the archive confirming the archival status of the file. The input is configured to clear the archival status retention flag. Once the flag has been cleared, the file will be deleted from the collaboration platform in accordance with the retention policy for the file.