When you work independently, your process is your brand. If a client’s data leaks through your workflow—even accidentally—the damage is hard to undo. The good news: with a few habits and the right tools, you can deliver files quickly and securely without becoming an IT admin.

What counts as “sensitive” client data?

Finance: invoices, bank details, payroll exports
Legal: contracts, identity documents, NDAs
Health: patient data, assessments, reports
Marketing: unpublished campaigns, pricing, strategy decks
Product: unreleased designs, source files, roadmaps

Treat anything that would embarrass your client (or violate a contract/regulation) as sensitive by default.

Principles for secure client sharing

Minimize exposure: Share only what’s necessary, only with the intended people, and only for as long as needed
Control access: Passwords, expiring links, and download limits reduce risk if a link is forwarded
Separate channels: Never send the link and its password in the same message
Keep a clean record: Use a short note for context; don’t overshare metadata
Prefer temporary sharing: If it doesn’t need to live in cloud storage, don’t keep it there

A simple, secure handoff flow

Use a repeatable flow that you can execute in minutes:

Package the deliverables: zip the exact files the client needs, with a short README
Upload to a secure sharing tool with passwords, expiry, and download limits
Share the link in your client thread (email or PM)
Send the password in a separate channel (text/Signal)
When a revision is needed, upload a fresh version and send a new link

With Comfyfile, you can share up to 4GB per upload anonymously, add a passcode, set expiry (free uploads up to 24 hours), and limit total downloads—no accounts for recipients.

Recommended defaults (you can copy these)

Expiry: 7 days for paid projects; 24 hours for quick reviews
Downloads: 2–3 total
Password: Unique per delivery; avoid reusing
Notes: One‑line context (e.g., “Q3 pricing deck v2 – approved export”)

Handling extra‑sensitive data (with NDAs or regulations)

Stronger passwords: Use a random 12–16 character passcode
Separate channels: Send the passcode via SMS or voice, not in email
Verify recipient identity for the first handoff
Watermark previews when appropriate
Keep raw assets in your private drive; share export-only via link

If your client is in a regulated industry (finance, health, legal), confirm their requirements before sharing. When in doubt, reduce visibility and shorten the access window.

Common mistakes to avoid

Reusing old links for new versions
Leaving links alive forever
Posting links in group channels with more people than necessary
Sending passwords in the same email as the link
Sharing the entire working folder instead of just the required files

Troubleshooting script (paste as reply)

“It asks for a passcode.” → Use the passcode I sent separately; it’s case‑sensitive
“The link expired.” → I’ll send a fresh link right away
“The file is too large to preview.” → Download and open locally; I can also provide a lighter preview
“Can I forward this?” → Please don’t; I can create a separate link for others

When to use a shared drive instead

Use a shared drive (e.g., Drive, Dropbox) when there’s continuous collaboration and multiple stakeholders editing. For finalized assets, approvals, or one‑time deliveries, a secure, expiring link is cleaner and reduces long‑term risk.

Clients hire you for outcomes—and expect you to protect their information along the way. With a consistent, security‑first handoff, you’ll deliver faster, avoid awkward “link doesn’t work” moments, and strengthen trust on every project.

Secure Ways to Share Sensitive Client Data as a Freelancer