Which data retention solution should be applied to a file in order to reduce the data footprint by deleting fixed content and duplicate data?

The option that best fits the requirement to reduce the data footprint by deleting fixed content and duplicate data is archiving. Archiving involves moving data that is no longer actively used to a separate storage system. This process not only helps in freeing up valuable storage space but also optimizes the overall data management strategy by removing unnecessary duplicates and fixed content that do not need to be readily accessible.

By implementing an archiving strategy, organizations can retain essential data for compliance and legal purposes while eliminating redundant information, thus reducing the overall data footprint. This is particularly important in environments where data volume is growing rapidly, as it helps maintain efficiency and can potentially lower storage costs.

In contrast, backup typically involves creating copies of data to protect against loss or corruption and doesn't focus on reducing the existing data footprint. Caching is a technique used to store frequently accessed data temporarily for quick retrieval and does not relate to data retention or footprint reduction. Saving refers to the general action of storing data without any specific strategy for managing duplicates or fixed content.