Frequently Asked Questions

Honeycake is a comprehensive platform for file security that lets you protect sensitive content in your files—while storing and sharing them through the tools you already use. We offer a suite of products built on the Honeycake Platform, including consumer apps for desktop and mobile, a web-based Dashboard for auditing and control, CLI tools for developers, enterprise solutions like Vault and Uploader, and an API for custom integrations. Your data stays private, wherever it goes.

Honeycake uses a process called "Baking™" to encrypt your files. When you bake a file, you can choose either EZ Bake™ or Layer Bake™. EZ Bake, available for all file types, allows you to determine who can access your files and for how long. Layer Bake, available for pdf, pptx, txt, csv, and json formats, allows you to go deeper and determine what sections of the files you want to further protect.

Any file can be EZ baked into a simple cake. These cake files have a single set of authorized users for the entire file.

Some file types (currently PDF, pptx, txt, csv, and json) allow sections of the file to be further protected. Different pages in a pdf, columns in a csv, etc. can be redacted except for users you designate. We call that Layer Bake.

Yes. Your files are encrypted locally and never uploaded to our servers. You control who can open them, and for how long. By separating file storage from access methods, we add multiple layers of protection between your data and unwanted access. We also follow strict, industry-recognized security standards and continuously update our practices to stay ahead of emerging threats.

The end of the baking process gives you a .cake file. You can share this file with others by any means you normally would, including insecure methods like text, email, slack, dropbox, etc., secure in the knowledge that only the people you designate will be able to open the file.

If you forget your password, you can use the password reset feature on the login page. You'll receive a reset link at your registered email address. For security reasons, we cannot recover your password directly.

Yes, you can revoke access to shared files from anyone or everyone at any time through the application interface. Once revoked, the recipient will no longer be able to access the file. Be warned, however, that once someone has opened a file, they may have a copy of the file in their local storage.

Yes, you can add access to previously shared files at any time through the application interface.

There are no current file size limits, but be warned that, because large files and complex layer bakes take longer to encrypt, your machine and/or patience may fail before our technology does.

You can contact our support team at help@honeycakefiles.com. We typically respond to inquiries within 24 hours.

Honeycake offers a comprehensive suite of products built on our secure platform:

Consumer App - Desktop and mobile app for easy file security

Dashboard / User Portal - Web-based interface for auditing, controlling files after send, and opening/baking files

CLI - Command line interface for developers and automation

Uploader - Custom integration tool for Dropbox, Box, or S3 storage

Vault - Folder-level monitoring with automated encryption

API - Programmatic access for enterprise customers building custom solutions

The Consumer App is designed for individual users who want an easy-to-use desktop or mobile application for encrypting and sharing files. Our other products serve different needs:

The Dashboard provides web-based auditing and control over files you've already shared, allowing you to see who accessed them and modify permissions.

The CLI offers the same encryption capabilities but is designed for developers who want to integrate file security into their workflows and automation.

Vault automatically monitors folders and encrypts files as they appear, ideal for organizations with large volumes of files.

Uploader enables secure file uploads directly to cloud storage, perfect for collecting files from clients, vendors, or team members.

The API gives enterprise customers with software development expertise the ability to build custom applications on top of the Honeycake Platform.

Use the Consumer App if you prefer a graphical interface and want an easy, point-and-click way to encrypt and decrypt files. Use the CLI if you're a developer or power user who wants to integrate file encryption into scripts, automation workflows, or build tools. The CLI provides the same encryption features as the app but is designed for programmatic use.

Yes! The Dashboard provides comprehensive audit logs showing exactly who accessed your files and when they were opened. You can see a complete history of all file access activity, giving you full visibility into how your sensitive files are being used.

Yes. The Dashboard shows not only successful access attempts but also who was blocked from accessing files. This helps you identify unauthorized access attempts and monitor security events in real-time.

Absolutely. With the Dashboard, sending a file doesn't mean losing control. You can add or remove access to files and file sections at any time, even after sharing. You can see who opened files and when, modify permissions dynamically, and maintain full control over your sensitive documents. It's security with auditability and peace of mind baked in.

Vault is an automatic folder encryption utility that monitors designated source folders and automatically encrypts files as they appear, using our proprietary .cake format. You can set up custom folder mappings with different sharing permissions, time-to-live settings, and access controls. Perfect for organizations that need to secure large volumes of files with automated security policies and minimal manual intervention.

Uploader is for customers who want an easy way for people to automatically send them sensitive files, properly secured and directly to their Dropbox, Box, or S3 storage. Files can be uploaded from internal team members, vendors, clients, or even anonymously, all controlled by your configuration. This eliminates the need for insecure email attachments or unencrypted file transfers.

The Honeycake API provides enterprise customers with software development expertise the ability to build their own applications on top of the Honeycake Platform. Honeycake plugs in seamlessly as security-as-a-service, giving you direct programmatic access to encryption, key management, and access control infrastructure. It's ideal for organizations that need to embed document security directly into their existing applications, workflows, or business processes.