Industries · Engineering
IT for engineering teams who live in CAD, BIM and large project files
Civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and multidisciplinary firms depend on high-performance workstations, design software licensing and project archives that stretch back decades. We manage that environment so engineers spend their time designing rather than waiting on files or chasing licences.
At a glance
- Who this is for
- Consulting engineering, surveying and design firms of roughly 5 to 200 employees in BC and Alberta
- Typical environment
- CAD and BIM workstations, Autodesk or comparable design software, a file server or cloud storage for models, Microsoft 365 and field laptops
- Common priorities
- Workstation performance, licence availability, large file collaboration between offices and partners, and long-term project archives
- How support is delivered
- Remote support with on-site visits in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Calgary confirmed per address and scope
- Pricing basis
- Per user per month with server and workstation components, confirmed in a written quotation after discovery
Technology challenges engineering firms face
Workstations that must match the software
Revit, Civil 3D, AutoCAD and analysis tools have specific graphics card, memory and processor needs. An under-specified laptop or a driver update applied at the wrong time can make a model unusable mid-project.
Very large, interlinked project files
BIM models, point clouds, survey data and drawing sets with external references are large and depend on consistent folder paths. Generic cloud sync can break references, create conflicted copies or saturate a small office connection.
Licence servers and named-user licensing
Some firms still run a network licence server for older software, while newer subscriptions are tied to named users. Keeping track of who is assigned what, and freeing licences when people leave, is a recurring administrative task.
Project archives that must remain usable
Engineering records often need to be retrieved years after a project closes. Archives must be organized, backed up and readable, even after the software version used to create them has changed.
Risks that matter most to engineering practices
- Ransomware encrypting a file server that holds every active project and decades of archived work
- Model corruption or overwritten drawings caused by two people syncing the same file without proper locking
- Loss of design capacity when a licence server fails or a subscription renewal is missed
- Sensitive client and infrastructure drawings shared through personal file transfer services with no expiry
- Workstation failures that idle a senior engineer for days while a replacement is ordered and configured
- Field laptops carrying survey and site data without encryption or backup
Services we recommend for engineering firms
Managed IT and device management
Standard builds for CAD workstations, controlled driver and software updates scheduled around deadlines, and an inventory that shows the age and specification of every machine.
Server and storage administration
Care of on-premises file servers or hybrid storage used for models, including permissions, capacity planning, licence server hosting and performance checks.
Backup and disaster recovery
Versioned backups of project data with an offsite or immutable copy, and periodic restores of real project folders to prove they can be recovered.
Technology lifecycle and procurement
Workstation refresh planning tied to software requirements, so replacements are budgeted and ordered before older machines become a bottleneck.
Microsoft 365 administration
Teams and SharePoint for project coordination, external sharing policies for clients and partners, and named-user licence tracking.
Using Microsoft 365 without breaking your models
Microsoft 365 is a good home for correspondence, specifications, reports, meeting notes and smaller drawing sets. It is not always the right home for large linked models that many people edit at once. We help you decide which data belongs in SharePoint and Teams, which belongs on a file server or a purpose-built collaboration service such as Autodesk’s cloud platform, and how the two connect.
For external collaboration, we configure guest access and sharing links with expiry dates so clients, architects and contractors receive what they need without permanent access to your tenant. We also align Microsoft 365 group membership with project teams, which makes it easier to remove access when a project closes or a staff member moves on.
Continuity for active projects and long-term archives
- Backups of project data that keep multiple versions, so a corrupted or overwritten model can be rolled back
- A copy of backups stored offsite or in immutable storage, separate from the production network
- Documented reinstallation steps for design software and licence servers so a replacement machine can be prepared quickly
- A spare or loaner workstation strategy for critical roles, agreed in advance
- An archive structure and retention approach for closed projects, with periodic checks that archived files still open
Security controls for design data
- Multifactor authentication for Microsoft 365, remote access and design software portals
- Endpoint detection and response on workstations and servers, tuned so it does not interfere with large model files
- Least-privilege folder permissions on project shares, organized by project or client rather than by individual
- Secure external sharing with expiry and download controls instead of personal transfer accounts
- Disk encryption and remote wipe for field laptops and tablets
- Regular patching of servers and workstations with update windows scheduled around submission deadlines
How we work with an engineering firm
Understand the design workflow
We review which design applications you use, how models are stored and shared, how licensing works and where performance problems occur.
Stabilize storage and backups
We confirm that project data is backed up with versioning and an offsite copy, and test a restore before anything else changes.
Standardize workstations
We define a CAD workstation build, record driver and software versions, and set a controlled update schedule.
Plan collaboration and archives
We agree where each type of project data lives, how external partners access it, and how completed projects are archived.
Operate and plan ahead
Ongoing support under the agreed scope, with quarterly reviews covering workstation refresh, storage growth and licence changes.
Design software support
We install, update and troubleshoot design software at the system level and coordinate with Autodesk or other vendors and resellers. Modelling standards, template content and application training remain with your BIM lead or vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend workstations for Revit and Civil 3D?
Yes. We base specifications on the software vendor’s published requirements and your actual model sizes, then source and configure machines through our procurement service. Hardware is quoted separately.
Should our models move to SharePoint?
It depends on file size, linking and how many people edit at once. Many firms keep active models on a file server or a design collaboration platform and use SharePoint for documents and correspondence. We recommend an approach after reviewing your projects.
Do you manage our licence server?
We can host, patch, back up and monitor a licence server as part of server administration, and coordinate with your reseller for licence files and renewals.
How do you protect decades of project archives?
We include archives in your backup scope with versioning and an offsite copy, and periodically test that archived files can be restored and opened.
We have offices in BC and Alberta. Can you support both?
Yes. Remote support covers both provinces, and on-site visits in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Calgary are confirmed per address.
Related services
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Industries we support
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Review your design environment with us
Book a consultation to discuss workstations, storage, licensing and archives. You will receive a written scope before any recurring commitment.