A computer-implemented method comprising: accessing, at a client device, a first artifact and artifact metadata corresponding to the artifact; creating, at the client device, an artifact cryptographic digest corresponding to the artifact to certify existence of the artifact; transmitting, at the client device, the artifact cryptographic digest and artifact metadata to a server; adding, at the server device, the artifact cryptographic digest to a block chain; and adding, at the server device, the artifact cryptographic digest, the artifact metadata and the first artifact to a data storage device separate and distinct from the block chain to reference the artifact cryptographic digest on the block chain.