Why DLP alone can’t protect Manufacturing IP (and what can)

Engineering simulations. Machinery instructions. Prototype designs. 

CAD software is essential across the modern manufacturing production chain and contains manufacturers’ most confidential intellectual property (IP). Yet, much of the manufacturing industry still relies on Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to protect its CAD data.

DLP tools only protect data after storage, leaving significant IP protection gaps when data is first created or in transit outside of your cloud storage/PLM system. But with Secude working alongside your existing DLP tools, you can easily close your CAD file security gaps and protect your IP. Here’s how. 

3 CAD file DLP gaps manufacturing needs to close

In manufacturing, CAD files containing your most valuable trade secrets are your ‘crown jewels’. DLP security acts like a bank vault, locking down these jewels and protecting them from internal and external threats. But DLP security does not protect these jewels when they’re first created or when they’re travelling to and from the bank vault. 

With DLP, your priceless CAD files are:

• Not secure when generated. DLP solutions can provide strong CAD file protection, but only after the files are stored. As most DLP security kicks in at the storage level, there’s a significant risk window between data generation and storage.
  
  
• Not secure when in transit. DLP does not protect files shared outside of your IT perimeter. As DLP only protects CAD files in secure environments, you’re putting your precious IP at risk when collaborating with third-party partners or suppliers.
  
  
• Not secure by default. DLP security is not embedded in your CAD files. As DLP acts like an external shield, rather than integrated file-level security, you cannot track where CAD files travel or prevent unauthorized access if files are accidentally leaked. 

How Secude closes DLP security gaps for manufacturers

Secude’s file-level security works with your existing DLP set-up to close these CAD file security gaps. 

With Secude & DLP, your CAD files are: 

• Protected from creation. Secude encrypts your CAD files between data generation and storage. Built into the application layer (instead of the storage level like DLP), Secude automatically applies Microsoft Purview protection and data governance as soon as CAD files are generated.
  
  
• Protected when shared externally. Secude’s MPIP sensitivity labels and access controls secures your CAD files when they travel outside of your IT perimeter, be it with contractors directly or in cloud-based PLM systems.
  
  
• Protected for their entire lifetime. Embedded into the CAD file, Secude’s protection lasts for your CAD files’ entire lifetime, so you can still track and control access (i.e. edit or revoke permissions) years after files are shared. 

DLP + Secude = ultimate CAD file protection 

3 reasons why manufacturing needs DLP & Secude

1. Protect your IP no matter where it travels

IP leakage can be detrimental to your company’s future prospects, harming your reputation, exposing your secrets, and undermining your productive competitiveness. 

With your DLP tools & Secude working together, your CAD files are always protected from external attacks and insider negligence (55% of insider security incidents resulted from employee negligence) as unauthorized personnel cannot access your CAD files even if they get hold of them. 

2. Close digital supply chain security gaps 

Over a third of data breaches in 2025 involved third-parties. By targeting less-security focused supply chain partners, cyber attackers can infiltrate your cloud-based PLM or gain unauthorized access to CAD files directly. 

With Secude working alongside your existing DLP tools, your CAD files have lifetime sensitive labels that prevent unauthorized access even if there is a data breach. You can also monitor usage and revoke third-party access at any time (i.e. after an NDA expires or project finishes). 

3. Collaborate securely with or without encryption

While some DLP systems can recognize CAD file extensions, they impose “all or nothing” encryption rules on these files, which keeps them secure, but hinders collaboration with third parties. 

With Secude working alongside DLP, you can secure your CAD files with encryption (using HaloCAD) or without encryption (using HaloSHARE). For example, if you want to share factory blueprints with a third-party production partner, HaloSHARE can add visible watermarking of the document ownership. Additionally, discreet marking (metadata) will be implanted within the files (enabling traceability of file leaks back to the partner who the file is shared with) and the file is then digitally signed to prevent modifications.  

Example: Microsoft Purview Information Protection (MPIP)

MPIP helps manufacturing companies using Microsoft 365 to protect and manage data across different environments, but its sensitivity labels only encrypt and track native MS Office files. Secude’s HaloCAD extends MPIP protection to all major CAD file formats (i.e. Autodesk, Siemens, PTC, and Dassault Systemes etc), embedding lifelong encryption and data governance into CAD files from creation. 

DLP & Secude: full IP protection software for manufacturers

Secude and DLP tools serve different parts of the security journey. DLP tools keep your CAD files secure after data is stored. Secude keeps your CAD files secure before data is stored and when data travels. 

Together, they protect your CAD files (and the IP contained within them) for its lifetime. 

For more information, download our white paper: CAD file security: How Manufacturers can protect IP in 2026.