If your release documentation lives in a shared drive and approvals happen over email, this page is for you. Here's what changes when the process is governed.
| Capability | Spreadsheets | Email approvals | ReleaseGuard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documentation matrix per release type | Manual per release |
Not supported |
Defined once, versioned, QA-approved |
| Separation of duties (author ≠ reviewer ≠ approver) | Policy only |
Easy to bypass |
Enforced at every action |
| Electronic signatures with password re-entry | None |
None |
21 CFR Part 11 aligned |
| File integrity (detect post-submission edits) | Not possible |
Not possible |
SHA-256 fingerprint |
| Conditional document decisions with justification | Ad-hoc |
In email threads |
Structured + audit-trailed |
| DEV / VAL / PROD stage gates | Manual checks |
Manual checks |
Re-checked at every promotion |
| Append-only audit trail | Editable, silent |
In inboxes, hard to search |
DB triggers refuse edits/deletes |
| Release dossier export (signed revisions + checksums) | Manual assembly |
Manual assembly |
One-click ZIP with manifest |
| Matrix change requires 3 distinct approvers | No structure |
No structure |
Manager · Quality · ProductOwner |
| Role-aware dashboards | Shared file, no roles |
Inbox only |
Per-user queues and decisions |
| Time to prepare for a DEV gate | 2–4 days chasing updates |
1–3 days chasing replies |
Under 4 hours (typical) |
| Time to answer an audit question | Hours to days |
Hours to days |
Under 60 seconds |
Signatures, file fingerprints, and append-only audit records are part of the workflow — not features you turn on later.
Define required, conditional, and not-applicable documents once. Each new release inherits the exact right checklist.
The document gate is re-checked at every promotion. When a document is missing, the release does not advance.
15-minute walkthrough. We'll map your current process — spreadsheet, email, or otherwise — onto a live ReleaseGuard instance.