Question 1

What is digital rights management (DRM) for documents?

Accepted Answer

Document DRM is technology that keeps you in control of a file after you share it. Instead of sending an unprotected PDF that anyone can forward, print, or copy, AssetGuard wraps your document in 256-bit AES encryption and enforces rules you choose: who can open it, on which devices, for how long, and whether printing, copying, or downloading is allowed. Every access attempt is logged, and you can revoke a document globally at any time.

Question 2

How is DRM different from password-protecting a PDF?

Accepted Answer

A PDF password is a single shared secret: once someone knows it, they can open, copy, and redistribute the file forever, and you will never know. DRM protection is identity-based and revocable. AssetGuard identifies each viewer, applies per-viewer watermarks, enforces view limits and expiry dates, blocks printing and copying when you choose, and lets you cut off access instantly — even for copies that have already been shared.

Question 3

What file types can I protect with AssetGuard?

Accepted Answer

AssetGuard protects PDF documents and common image formats such as PNG and JPEG. Contracts, work orders, engineering drawings, price lists, proposals, financial statements, and design assets are all typical use cases. Files are encrypted at rest with 256-bit AES and served through a protected viewer that enforces your print, copy, and download rules.

Question 4

Can I revoke access to a document after I have sent it?

Accepted Answer

Yes — instant revocation is a core AssetGuard feature. Because recipients view documents through a protected link rather than holding the raw file, one click disables the link everywhere, immediately. The document becomes unreadable for every recipient, on every device, even if the link was forwarded. You can also revoke a single viewer while keeping the link active for others.

Question 5

How do expiring links and view limits work?

Accepted Answer

When you share a document you can set an expiry date, a maximum number of views, or both. After the expiry passes or the view cap is reached, the link stops working automatically — no manual cleanup required. This is ideal for time-boxed negotiations, bid packages, and interview materials where access should end on a schedule.

Question 6

How does document watermarking deter leaks?

Accepted Answer

AssetGuard overlays each protected document with a visible watermark that can include the viewer’s email address, the date, and your branding. Because every copy is traceable to the person who viewed it, recipients are far less likely to photograph, screenshot, or redistribute it. If a leak does happen, the watermark tells you exactly whose access to investigate and revoke.

Question 7

Can AssetGuard prevent screenshots of my documents?

Accepted Answer

AssetGuard combines several defenses: a Screen Shield that blurs the document when the viewer window loses focus, screenshot-attempt logging that records who tried to capture the screen and when, disabled right-click and text selection, and per-viewer watermarks that make any captured image traceable. No technology can stop a photo of a screen, which is why traceable watermarking plus a complete audit trail is the industry-standard deterrent.

Question 8

Can I stop recipients from printing or copying my document?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Print and copy permissions are set per share link. Disable printing to keep documents on-screen only, block text selection and copying to prevent content extraction, and disable downloading so the raw file never leaves your control. You can grant more permissive rights to trusted partners and stricter rules for external parties, all from the same document.

Question 9

Are electronic signatures on AssetGuard legally binding?

Accepted Answer

Electronic signatures are legally recognized in most jurisdictions, including under the U.S. ESIGN Act and UETA and the EU eIDAS regulation. AssetGuard strengthens enforceability by recording a full evidence trail: the signer’s identity and email, timestamps, IP address, scroll-through confirmation that the signer viewed the entire document, and a tamper-evident signed copy delivered to all parties.

Question 10

How does scroll-to-sign work and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Scroll-to-sign requires the signer to scroll through the entire document before the signature field unlocks. This prevents the common dispute where a signer claims they never saw a key clause. AssetGuard records the read-through together with read receipts and open notifications, giving you proof of informed consent alongside the signature itself.

Question 11

Can multiple people sign the same document?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AssetGuard supports multi-signer workflows: add several signers to a contract, track who has opened and who has signed, send automatic reminders to those who have not, and automatically deliver the completed, signed copy to every party — plus any CC recipients you choose — the moment the last signature lands.

Question 12

What does 256-bit AES encryption actually protect?

Accepted Answer

AES-256 is the encryption standard used by governments and financial institutions worldwide. AssetGuard encrypts your files with it at rest, so a stolen storage volume or intercepted backup yields only unreadable ciphertext, and serves them over encrypted TLS connections, so documents cannot be read in transit. Brute-forcing a 256-bit key is computationally infeasible with any known technology.

Question 13

Does AssetGuard provide an audit trail for compliance?

Accepted Answer

Every event is logged: uploads, share-link creation, each view with time, IP, and device details, print and download attempts, screenshot attempts, signature events, and revocations. You can export compliance-ready PDF reports for audits, disputes, or internal reviews — useful for teams working under confidentiality agreements, NDA obligations, or regulatory oversight.

Question 14

Can I restrict which devices or locations can open my documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AssetGuard supports device and OS restrictions as well as location-based rules (geofencing). Limit a bid package to desktop viewers in your country, or block access from unexpected regions entirely. Combined with per-viewer identification, this dramatically shrinks the surface area for unauthorized access.

Question 15

Is there a free plan, and what does it include?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The free plan lets you protect documents with core DRM controls — encryption, watermarked share links, print/copy restrictions, revocation, and access logs — plus electronic signature requests. No credit card is required. Paid plans (Pro, Business, Enterprise) add higher document caps, SSO, custom branding, API access, and flexible per-document overage pricing.

Question 16

How quickly can I protect and share my first document?

Accepted Answer

Under two minutes. Create a free account, drag and drop a PDF or image, and AssetGuard encrypts it instantly. Choose your protection rules — expiry, view limit, watermark, print/copy permissions, signature requirement — and copy the protected link. You can watch opens arrive in your access log in real time.

Question 17

Who uses AssetGuard?

Accepted Answer

Contractors and trades sending work orders for signature, agencies and studios sharing creative work with clients, engineering and manufacturing firms distributing drawings and specifications, legal and finance teams handling confidential agreements, and any business that needs to share sensitive documents without losing control of them.

Document Security FAQ

Document Protection & DRM

Watermarking & Leak Prevention

Electronic Signatures & Contracts

Security & Compliance

Plans & Getting Started

Still have questions?