Last Updated on: 30th October 2025, 05:19 pm

GuardWare today introduced GuardWare PROTECT Design, a world-first cybersecurity solution that applies persistent encryption to complex engineering and design files while they are being used.

Many current security systems are designed for standard document types such as PDFs and Word files, leaving unstructured technical data—like CAD drawings, prototype models, simulation files and source code—largely unprotected. This gap has created a significant security risk for sectors where design confidentiality is critical.

Although sharing design assets with manufacturers and project partners is essential, it exposes businesses to the growing threat of intellectual property theft. The scale of the problem is substantial: a joint government and industry study estimates that UK companies lose £9.2 billion annually due to stolen IP.

GuardWare PROTECT Design directly tackles this issue by ensuring that encryption remains active throughout the entire lifecycle of the file—including during collaboration and editing—eliminating the traditional security blind spot.

GuardWare PROTECT Design is the first solution in the world to close this security gap with three revolutionary features:

1. Persistent encryption, while in use: In a global first, PROTECT Design ensures that complex files, such as CAD drawings and source code, remain fully encrypted even while open and in use. Whether data is stolen, hacked, or maliciously copied by a trusted insider, it remains unreadable and useless.
2. Data destruction remote kill switch: Data owners now have the power to instantly revoke access and destroy any design file, regardless of where it has been sent throughout the supply chain. This provides an unprecedented level of control for IP owners, ensuring IP owners maintain control at all times.
3. Complete visibility and audit trail: The platform provides IP owners with a complete, non-repudiable audit trail, tracking every action taken on a file. This includes who accessed it, on what device, and when, providing unparalleled visibility and control over sensitive data as it moves through the supply chain.

“For years, attackers have targeted design files precisely because they knew they were the weak link in an organisation’s data protection strategy,” said Ian McKinley, UK executive director of GuardWare. “Perimeter defences all fail eventually. With PROTECT Design, that vulnerability is eliminated. We’ve created a solution that makes stolen data unreadable and useless, empowering security teams to protect what truly matters without hindering innovation.”