The implementation of Lizard Safeguard PDF Security is designed to be quick and user-friendly, often taking just a few hours to complete. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
Obtain a License After purchasing the software or requesting a free trial, you’ll receive a license file via email. This license is required to activate the Safeguard Secure PDF Writer.
Download and Install the Software Download the Safeguard Secure PDF Writer from Locklizard’s website. Installation must be done with administrator privileges on a Windows machine. During installation, you’ll be prompted to register your license, which connects to Locklizard’s servers for activation.
Register the License Open the license file using the Secure PDF Writer. The software will automatically register the license online and confirm successful activation.
Protect PDF Files Once installed, you can start protecting your PDF files. Simply right-click on a PDF in Windows File Explorer and select “Make Secure PDF.” This opens the protection dialog.
Set Document Controls Choose your desired DRM controls—such as print restrictions, expiry dates, watermarking, and device locking—via the tabbed interface. If protecting multiple files, use the “Publish All” option.
Distribute Protected Files The protected files are saved with a .PDC extension. You can distribute them via email, download links, or through the Safeguard Web Publisher for browser-based access.
Manage Users and Licenses Use the web-based admin portal to create user accounts, assign document access, monitor usage, and revoke access if needed.
Estimated Timeframe:
Initial setup and installation: ~30–60 minutes
Training and first document protection: ~1–2 hours
Full deployment: Within a day for small to mid-sized teams.
Customisation
Lizard Safeguard PDF Security offers a high degree of customization, especially through its Enterprise Edition, which is tailored for large organizations and publishers. Here are the key customization capabilities:
Sub-Administrator Roles You can create multiple admin accounts with different access levels (full or read-only) and assign them to manage specific users or documents. Each admin’s actions are logged separately for accountability.
Geographic and IP Restrictions Documents can be locked to specific countries, IP addresses, or IP ranges, allowing or denying access based on location. This is useful for compliance with regional regulations or internal policies.
Flexible Licensing Licenses can be transferred between devices, allowing users to deactivate one device and activate another. This is ideal for organizations with mobile or remote teams.
Custom Branding and Messaging The platform allows for custom branding of the viewer interface and messages, enabling businesses to maintain a consistent brand experience.
Batch Processing and Command-Line Tools For high-volume operations, Safeguard supports batch protection and command-line utilities, enabling integration with existing content management systems or automated workflows.
Custom Document Access Policies You can define unique document usage rules, such as:
Number of views or prints
Expiry after a specific date or number of uses
Offline or online-only access
Device or USB locking
Watermark customization with dynamic user data
Deployment Flexibility Choose between cloud-hosted, on-premise, or hybrid deployment models to meet IT, compliance, or security requirements.
API Integration The platform supports API access for deeper integration with third-party systems like e-commerce platforms, LMS, or internal portals.
Custom Reports and Analytics Track document usage, including views, prints, and user activity, with customizable reporting features.
These features make Lizard Safeguard adaptable for various industries, including legal, publishing, education, and finance, where document control and compliance are critical.
Additional Costs
Lizard Safeguard PDF Security offers flexible licensing models—annual, perpetual, and own-server—each with its own cost structure:
Setup Fees: There are no separate setup fees for Locklizard’s hosted systems. The software can be installed and operational in under 5 minutes.
Support Charges:
Email support is included for customers with an active support agreement.
Telephone support is available as an add-on, either as an annual fee or hourly/daily rate.
Support is mandatory for the first year, charged at 12% of the total license fee.
Maintenance & Updates:
Lifetime software updates are included with Locklizard-hosted systems.
For own-server licenses, updates and support are available for an additional fee.
Add-on Services (Optional):
Safeguard Web Publisher (annual fee if hosted by Locklizard)
E-commerce integration
Command-line viewer
Custom branding
Enterprise sub-admin accounts
Additional writer licenses (1 included by default)
Customization of registration emails
Online training
Additional storage (per GB/year) for hosted Web Publisher
Credit Card Handling Fee: A 5% fee applies to credit card purchases.
Training
Locklizard provides a range of training and support resources tailored for both new and experienced users:
Online Training: Available as an optional add-on, this includes guided sessions to help new users understand how to protect documents, manage users, and configure policies.
Product Manuals & Quick Start Guides: Comprehensive manuals are available for all components, including Secure PDF Writer, Secure PDF Viewer, Web Viewer, and add-ons like Web Publisher and Portable USB.
Video Tutorials: Step-by-step videos demonstrate how to install, configure, and use the software effectively.
Knowledge Base: A searchable online resource with FAQs, troubleshooting tips, and detailed explanations of features.
Support Channels:
Email Support: Available to customers with active support agreements.
Bug Reporting: A dedicated form is available for logging bugs.
Support Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST.
Response Time: Typically within one business day; urgent issues may be prioritized.
Evaluation Support: Customers evaluating the software or within 30 days of purchase can contact their sales account manager for assistance.
Security Measures
Lizard Safeguard PDF Security employs a multi-layered approach to document protection, focusing on both encryption and usage control:
256-bit AES Encryption: Ensures that PDF content is encrypted at rest and in transit, using government-grade security standards.
No Passwords or Certificates: Eliminates common vulnerabilities by using secure licensing and transparent key management instead of user-managed passwords.
Device & Location Locking: Documents can be locked to specific devices, IP addresses, or geographic regions, preventing unauthorized access.
Dynamic Watermarking: Adds user-specific, non-removable watermarks (e.g., name, email, IP address) at view or print time to deter leaks.
Screen Capture Protection: Blocks screen-grabbing tools and disables print screen functionality. Optional screen masking can obscure content when the viewer loses focus.
Print & Copy Restrictions: Prevents copying, editing, and printing of content, or limits these actions based on predefined rules.
Document Expiry & Revocation: Documents can be set to expire after a certain date, number of views, or prints. Access can be revoked at any time, even post-distribution.
Audit Trails: Tracks document usage, including views, prints, and device access, providing visibility into how content is consumed.
Offline Access with Secure Key Storage: Decryption keys are securely stored and tied to specific devices, ensuring offline access without compromising security.
No Uploading of Unprotected Files: Files are protected locally before distribution, ensuring unprotected content is never exposed to external servers.
These measures collectively ensure that sensitive documents remain secure, compliant, and under the publisher’s control—regardless of where or how they are accessed.
Updates
Lizard Safeguard PDF Security releases updates periodically, typically several times a year. These updates include enhancements to security features, compatibility improvements, and bug fixes. For example, the manuals for various components (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android viewers, and Web Viewer) show version updates as recent as September 2025, indicating active and ongoing development and support for multiple platforms.
Update Management:
For hosted deployments, updates are managed by Locklizard, ensuring minimal effort from the client side.
For own-server installations, clients are responsible for applying updates, but Locklizard provides the necessary files and documentation.
Software updates are included in the license (especially for perpetual and hosted licenses), and clients with active support agreements receive timely access to new versions.
Data Ownership and Portability
Lizard Safeguard emphasizes publisher control and ownership of content. Key aspects of their data ownership and portability policy include:
Full Content Ownership: Publishers retain complete ownership of their documents. Locklizard does not access or store unprotected files—protection is applied locally on the publisher’s machine.
No Uploading of Unprotected Files: Unlike many cloud-based DRM solutions, Locklizard ensures that unprotected PDFs are never uploaded to its servers, preserving confidentiality and control.
Portability of Protected Files: Once protected, PDFs can be distributed like any other file—via email, download links, or USB drives. The .PDC files are portable but can only be accessed by authorized users with the appropriate license.
Own-Server Option: For organizations with strict data sovereignty or compliance requirements, Locklizard offers an own-server license, allowing full control over hosting, user data, and document access policies.
Scaling Up / Down
Lizard Safeguard PDF Security is designed with scalability in mind, offering flexible licensing and deployment options to accommodate growth or downsizing:
Modular Licensing: The platform starts with a base license that includes one writer (administrator). Organizations can add more writer licenses as needed, allowing for horizontal scaling across departments or teams.
User Management: The web-based admin portal allows for easy addition or removal of users, making it simple to scale access up or down without disrupting existing workflows.
Enterprise Features: The Enterprise Edition supports sub-admin roles, batch processing, and API integration, which are ideal for large-scale deployments or organizations with complex structures.
Deployment Flexibility: Clients can start with a cloud-hosted solution and later migrate to an on-premise setup if their security or compliance needs evolve.
Add-on Services: Optional features like Web Publisher, e-commerce integration, and command-line tools can be added or removed based on operational requirements.
This modular and flexible approach ensures that organizations can adapt their use of the platform as their document security needs change over time.
The terms & conditions for contract renewal and cancellation
Locklizard offers multiple licensing models—annual, perpetual, and own-server—each with different renewal and cancellation terms:
Annual License:
This license is valid for one year and includes access to updates and support.
Renewal is required annually to maintain access to hosted services, support, and optional add-ons like Web Publisher or e-commerce integration.
If not renewed, access to hosted services and support is discontinued, but protected documents remain secure.
Perpetual License:
This is a one-time payment model that includes lifetime software use.
Annual support and hosting fees apply only if the customer uses Locklizard’s hosted services.
If support is not renewed, customers still retain access to the software but will not receive updates or technical assistance.
Own-Server License:
Designed for organizations that want full control over hosting and data.
No recurring hosting fees, but support and updates are optional and charged annually.
Cancellation Terms:
Locklizard does not publicly list a formal cancellation policy, but since the software is licensed rather than subscription-based (especially for perpetual and own-server models), cancellation typically involves non-renewal of support or hosting services.
For annual licenses, cancellation would mean not renewing the license at the end of the term. There are no indications of early termination fees.
Support Terms:
Support is mandatory for the first year and charged at 12% of the total license fee.
After the first year, support is optional but recommended for continued updates and assistance.
