Critical Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Critical Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Wave’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, accounts receivable allowance, depreciation and amortization, valuation of long-lived assets, contingencies and share-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition — Wave's business model targets revenues from various sources including software products and development contracts. Many of these sales arrangements include multiple-elements and/or require significant modification or customization of Wave's software. Wave recognizes revenue when 1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, 2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, 3) fees are fixed or determinable and 4) collectability is reasonably assured. If we determine that any one of the four criteria is not met, we will defer recognition of revenue until all of the criteria are met. In addition to the aforementioned general policy, the following are the specific revenue recognition policies for each major category of revenue. Licensing and Maintenance - Wave receives revenue from licensing its software to end users, OEM partners, software development and other services including maintenance. Wave applies software revenue recognition guidance to all transactions except those where no software is involved. Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fee is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Persuasive evidence is generally a binding purchase order or license agreement. Delivery occurs when product is shipped for its OEM distribution arrangements, or delivered via a license key for our license agreements. Wave enters into perpetual software license agreements through direct sales to customers and indirect sales through its OEM partners, distributors and resellers. Wave has defined its two classes of end user customers: large customers, whose orders are greater than or equal to 5,000 licenses and small customers, whose orders are less than 5,000 licenses. These license upgrade agreements generally include a maintenance component. For arrangements with multiple elements, including software licenses, maintenance and/or services, revenue is allocated and deferred in amounts equivalent to the vendor specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of fair value for the undelivered elements and the difference between the total arrangement fee and the amount deferred for the undelivered elements is recognized as license revenue. VSOE of fair value is based upon the price for which the undelivered element is sold separately. Wave has VSOE of fair value of maintenance for its small class of customers based on independent one-year maintenance renewals for its EMBASSY Remote Administration Server (“ERAS”) for Self Encrypting Drives (“SED”) product and its Protector product. As a result, for the ERAS SED and Protector small customer class licenses with one-year of maintenance bundled, Wave allocates the arrangement consideration to the elements in multi-element arrangements using the residual method. Under the residual method, the VSOE of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement fee for perpetual licenses is recognized as revenue upon delivery of the software, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met. When VSOE of fair value for the undelivered elements does not exist, as is the case for Wave’s maintenance for all products other than ERAS SED and Protector, large customer class ERAS SED and Protector orders, and small customer class ERAS SED and Protector orders when maintenance terms are in excess of one year, the entire arrangement fee is recognized ratably over the performance period as licensing and maintenance revenue. Wave’s deferred revenue consists of the unamortized maintenance for sales to its small class of customers and bundled license and maintenance arrangements where VSOE does not exist. Licensing and maintenance - cost of net revenues includes customer support personnel costs, costs associated with providing consulting services and related share-based compensation expense.
Valuation of Goodwill and Long Lived Assets	Valuation of Goodwill - Goodwill was fully impaired as of June 30, 2015, and as such, we have not evaluated goodwill as of September 30, 2015. Valuation of Long Lived Assets - We review long lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset group may not be recoverable. Recoverability of asset groups is assessed based on the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group, including its ultimate disposition. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group.
Share-based Compensation	Share-based Compensation — We recognize compensation expense for all share-based compensation awards made to employees, directors and consultants, including employee stock options, restricted stock units and employee stock purchases related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Share-based compensation expense recognized is based on the fair value of share-based payment awards adjusted for estimated forfeitures. We determine the fair value of restricted stock units based on the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. We estimate the fair value of employee stock option awards at grant date using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Our estimate of the fair value of the stock option awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables including, but not limited to, the estimated term of the award and our estimated stock price volatility.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements - In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements - Going Concern, which amends the disclosures of uncertainties about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. The amendments provide guidance in GAAP about management's responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. In doing so, the amendments should reduce the diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in the first quarter of 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments on its Consolidated Financial Statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-9, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), which amended the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. The amendments are based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company is required to adopt the amendments in the first quarter of 2018. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods starting January 1, 2017. The amendments may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these amendments and the transition alternatives on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Disclosure of accounting policy for revenue recognition. If the entity has different policies for different types of revenue transactions, the policy for each material type of transaction is generally disclosed. If a sales transaction has multiple element arrangements (for example, delivery of multiple products, services or the rights to use assets) the disclosure may indicate the accounting policy for each unit of accounting as well as how units of accounting are determined and valued. The disclosure may encompass important judgment as to appropriateness of principles related to recognition of revenue. The disclosure also may indicate the entity's treatment of any unearned or deferred revenue that arises from the transaction.