If you work in a regulated industry like healthcare or finance, you already know: data is both your most valuable asset and your greatest liability. It’s the key to better decisions, faster workflows, and improved outcomes - but it’s also the source of risk, scrutiny, and sleepless nights.
Enter: Zero Data Retention, or ZDR.
It’s not just a compliance buzzword. It’s a fundamentally different way of thinking about how your systems interact with sensitive data - and it’s built into the core of Formstack Streamline.
So… What Is Zero Data Retention?
Zero Data Retention (ZDR) means that your automation platform doesn’t store or persist sensitive data unless explicitly instructed. Instead, it accesses and uses data in real time - then lets it go.
In other words:
- No data is saved to the platform
- No data is retained after use
- No data is copied between systems unless your workflow intentionally requires it
This approach minimizes your attack surface, reduces compliance scope, and virtually eliminates the risk of data breaches within the automation layer.
Why ZDR Matters Now
Legacy platforms often pull data into a centralized system for processing, which inherently creates copies and expands your risk surface. That model is no longer viable for organizations that need to:
- Comply with HIPAA, GDPR, PCI, and other strict regulations
- Avoid unnecessary duplication of sensitive data
- Limit the number of systems in audit and compliance scope
- Reduce breach exposure and third-party liability
ZDR flips the script. Instead of moving and storing sensitive data, Formstack Streamline uses it at the source, in real time, then discards it.
Want to understand the architecture that makes this possible? Start with our deep dive into the Data Fabric - the foundation that enables secure, live access without retention.
How Formstack Streamline Implements Zero Data Retention
Formstack Streamline was built with Zero Data Retention at its core - not as an afterthought or bolt-on. Here’s how it works:
Real-time, in-place data access
Streamline connects directly to systems like EHRs, CRMs, and databases via secure APIs. Data is accessed only when needed and never written to disk.
Context-aware routing without storage
Data is used to prefill forms, drive logic, or trigger downstream actions - and then it’s gone. No lingering records, no database trails.
Live document generation and write-back
Need to create a form or eSignature flow? Streamline can pull data from a system, prefill documents, and write updates back - without storing anything in between.
Compliance by default
No data storage means fewer systems in scope for compliance audits. ZDR helps teams meet HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI requirements out of the box.
Audit-ready logs without data persistence
Even without storing data, Streamline provides detailed logs of workflow activity - so you know what happened, when, and by whom.
Who Benefits Most from ZDR?
Zero Data Retention is especially valuable for:
- Healthcare organizations dealing with PHI and EHR data
- Financial services teams managing client and transaction data
- Government agencies under strict data governance mandates
- Any enterprise looking to automate with fewer security and compliance risks
Secure Workflows Start with Zero
ZDR isn’t just a feature - it’s a design philosophy. One that says:
- Your data should stay where it belongs
- It should only move when it needs to
- And it shouldn’t linger where it’s not supposed to
With Formstack Streamline, you get a platform that lets you build powerful workflows - without ever storing your sensitive data.
Ready to move fast without adding risk? Let’s talk about how Streamline and ZDR can help your team automate with confidence.
See how the Data Fabric makes this possible.
