Secure CAD & Engineering Project Files Without Breaking Team Workflows
Engineering and CAD projects generate large, complex folder structures containing highly sensitive intellectual property. Drawings, models, and project data must be shared across teams, contractors, and locations — yet traditional file-sharing platforms leave these files exposed.
TeraCryption enables secure CAD and engineering team workflows by encrypting files before they are stored on a server or cloud platform. Only authorized team members can access project data, while designers continue to work normally inside AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Inventor, and similar CAD tools.
Encrypted workflows protect DWG, XREF, BIM, and related project assets at rest, in transit, and during controlled access, improving security, compliance, and productivity without disrupting engineering operations. Unlike cloud-based collaboration platforms, TeraCryption encrypts CAD files before storage and does not require file synchronization services.
Ideal CAD & Engineering Use Cases
TeraCryption is designed for organizations that manage complex CAD and engineering projects involving sensitive data.
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Architecture and engineering firms
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Construction and design-build companies
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Manufacturing and product design teams
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Government and infrastructure projects
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Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data
The CAD & Engineering Security Challenge
CAD and engineering teams face unique risks:
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Large projects with thousands of files and subfolders
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Continuous read/write access by designers and engineers
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Shared storage on servers, NAS, or cloud platforms
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Exposure to ransomware, insider threats, and IP theft
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No tolerance for workflow disruption or file locking
Traditional encryption solutions fail because they:
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Require manual encryption and decryption
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Break file references between drawings
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Lock files in ways that disrupt design workflows
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Depend on external or complex key-management systems
TeraKey ensures that attackers cannot open or read encrypted CAD files, while TeraBackup enables fast recovery by maintaining a real-time encrypted mirror of project data securely stored in cloud storage
Collaboration vs. Team Work in CAD Environments
In traditional document collaboration, multiple users can work on the same file simultaneously, viewing each other’s changes in real time. This model works well for text documents but does not apply to CAD tools such as AutoCAD, where only one designer can open and modify a drawing at a time.
For CAD environments, secure team work means controlled, sequential access to encrypted project files — not simultaneous real-time editing.
How TeraKey Enables Secure CAD Team Work
Instead of attempting to force real-time collaboration, TeraKey enables controlled team work — a model designed specifically for CAD environments.
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When a designer opens a CAD project, TeraKey decrypts the project files into a temporary workspace on the designer’s computer
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The encrypted project files remain stored on the server and are locked for other users
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If another designer attempts to open the same project, TeraKey notifies them and displays the name of the user currently working on it
The designer who opened the project can then decide who else in the Group is allowed to work on specific drawings within the project
Example: Secure CAD Team Work in Practice
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John opens the CAD project “Hotel”, which includes multiple drawings such as “Pool”
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John unlocks the Pool drawing and grants Mary access
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Mary decrypts the Pool file and works on it independently
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When Mary finishes, John decrypts the updated file and reintegrates it into the project
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The entire project is automatically re-encrypted when John saves and closes the CAD tool
This approach ensures that:
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Designers always know who is working on what
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File integrity is preserved
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No accidental overwrites occur
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The project remains encrypted when not actively in use
This is secure team work, not simultaneous collaboration — and it aligns with how CAD tools are actually used.
How TeraCryption Protects CAD & Engineering Projects
TeraCryption operates at the file system level, not at the application level — making it ideal for CAD workflows that require continuous read/write access.
Key Capabilities
Designer-side (client-side) encryption
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Files are encrypted on the engineer’s workstation before storage
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Encrypted files remain stored on the server and are not copied permanently to user machines
Preserves project structure
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Entire CAD project trees remain intact
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DWG, XREF, BIM, and reference relationships are preserved
Native CAD workflows
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Designers open, edit, and save files normally
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No CAD plugins or application modifications required
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Works with AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Inventor, and similar tools
Group-based access control
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Access is granted at the project or file level
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Only authorized group members can decrypt files
Performance and Storage Considerations
Because TeraKey decrypts files locally on the designer’s computer, there is no performance delay during CAD operations when encrypted files are stored on a local server.
TeraKey can also be used with cloud storage; however, in cloud environments there may be intrinsic delays due to file download and upload times. These delays are related to network transfer and not to encryption or decryption operations.
When using a local server for encrypted storage, designers experience native CAD performance, identical to working with unencrypted files.
Typical CAD & Engineering Use Cases
Multi-user CAD projects
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Multiple designers work on the same project folder using controlled access, preventing file corruption or encryption conflicts
Distributed engineering teams
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Authorized engineers securely access encrypted projects over VPN or cloud-connected servers
Contractor & partner access
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Grant limited access to external partners using Terakey Enterprise without exposing the project.
Intellectual property protection
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Prevent unauthorized access to proprietary designs, schematics, and models.
Example: Encrypted CAD Project Workflow
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A project folder is created on a server or cloud-connected storage
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A designer encrypts a project using TeraKey
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The project group folder appears on Explorer of each authorized designer in the group
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A Designer in the group decrypts the project whose decrypted files appear in a local folder to be accessed by the CAD tool
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Stored files remain encrypted at rest on the server
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Unauthorized users see only unreadable encrypted data
No workflow changes. No file handling overhead.
Works With Your Existing Infrastructure
TeraCryption integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure:
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On-premise file servers.
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Network-attached storage (NAS).
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Cloud storage platforms.
No need to migrate projects or redesign workflows.
Related Products
TeraKey Enterprise: File encryption engine for CAD projects.
TeraLink: Secure connectivity to servers.
TeraBackup: Autobackup of encrypted files to cloud storage.
Protect Your CAD & Engineering Projects Without Disruption
Book a 30-minute demo to see how TeraCryption secures CAD and engineering files while preserving the workflows your teams rely on.