Hosting a ZIP for client access is different from publishing a website from a ZIP. A website archive is extracted and served as pages; a client deliverable should remain a downloadable file with access limited to the intended people.
Use the right access boundary
Do not place a sensitive client archive at a guessable public URL. Use an authenticated client area, a protected download workflow, or a time-limited sharing method provided by your storage service. Always send the client an HTTPS link.
Check the archive before you share it
Remove passwords, API keys, private certificates, database exports, and local configuration files. A ZIP may also contain hidden operating-system files or old versions that were not meant for delivery. Open it in a fresh folder and inspect its contents as the recipient would.
Keep a delivery record
Name files clearly with a project and version, for example northwind-brand-assets-2026-09.zip. Replace an outdated file rather than leaving several ambiguous downloads online. If the archive is a website release, publish it as a site only when the client expects a public page—not as a substitute for protected file delivery.