Clean Design Source Files

Protect the design source file without hiding ownership

Design-source exports accumulate duplicate artwork, missing links, hidden layers, embedded metadata and plaintext temporary files. Clean a staged copy before encryption. Preserve the source separately, resolve which version is authoritative and document every exclusion so cleanup does not destroy the product record.

Run the control sequence

1. 01

   Copy the approved source set into a controlled staging area.

2. 02

   Inventory duplicates, hidden files, comments and temporary exports.

3. 03

   Minimize customer, employee and client information to the real decision need.

4. 04

   Name one authoritative version for each artifact and quarantine conflicts.

5. 05

   Review the clean manifest before importing or encrypting anything.

Preserve decision evidence

Record source, staged path, original count, retained count, duplicate decisions, metadata action, personal-data decision, conflicts, reviewer and clean-manifest hash.

Stop when

• The only source copy is being cleaned in place.
• Several files are called final with no delivery release ID.
• Unnecessary personal data remains without an approved purpose.

The record should show the approved delivery release, tested environment, responsible people and known limitations without storing passwords or unnecessary design source file content.

Separate the surrounding controls

Does not replace provider permissions, guaranteed backup, password recovery or enterprise identity management. Encryption does not assign provider permissions, verify a recipient, preserve every backup or remove plaintext working copies automatically.

Design Source File archive questions

Primary references

• NIST: Media protection
• NIST SP 800-111: Storage encryption

References support specific boundaries and do not imply endorsement.