Mitigating Intellectual Property Theft in PLM and PDM Environments with Curtain e-locker DLP 

Manufacturers rely on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Product Data Management (PDM) systems like SOLIDWORKS PDM to manage, collaborate on, and secure product designs, CAD models, and engineering data—arguably their most critical intellectual property (IP). However, once files are accessed or checked out, traditional systems lose continuous control, exposing valuable IP to insider threats, accidental leaks, and supply chain vulnerabilities. 

The Challenge of Protecting Product Designs 

• Insider Risk: Authorized employees or contractors can intentionally or unintentionally copy, leak, or share sensitive CAD files and engineering drawings outside the organization. 

• Supply Chain Exposure: Sharing design data with trusted external vendors and suppliers often leads to loss of corporate security oversight and potential data leakage. 

• Limited Traditional Controls: PLM/PDM systems typically secure files within their vaults, but once checked out or exported, files become vulnerable to unauthorized use and distribution. 

The Cost of IP Theft 

• Lost Competitive Advantage: Stolen designs enable competitors to replicate or reverse-engineer products, eroding market share. 
• Financial Impact: Intellectual property theft can result in billions of dollars in lost revenue, costly litigation, and remediation expenses worldwide. 
• Damaged Reputation: Breaches erode client, partner, and investor trust, affecting future contracts and business growth.