1. A computerized method comprising: receiving, by a computer server, a request from a first client device to instantiate a shared workspace for an electronic document, the electronic document having a displayable content portion and a non-viewable metadata portion; generating, by the computer server, the shared workspace for the electronic document, the generated shared workspace being a data repository apart from the electronic document and configured to store workflow data, the workflow data comprising data representative of modifications and/or comments associated with the displayable content portion of the electronic document; generating, by the computer server, an encryption key in association with both the generated shared workspace and the electronic document, the encryption key configured as a sole credential for accessing the workflow data stored in the shared workspace and further configured for indexing the generated shared workspace; sending, by the computer server in response to the request, at least the encryption key and a Uniform Resource Identifier representing a location of the shared workspace, for accessing the workflow data stored in the generated shared workspace, both the encryption key and the Uniform Resource Identifier configured for insertion into the non-viewable metadata portion of the electronic document; and receiving, by the computer server from a second client device having a local instance of the electronic document including both the encryption key and the Uniform Resource Identifier inserted into the non-viewable metadata portion, workflow data representative of modifications and/or comments to the electronic document for storage to the generated shared workspace.