While cyber-attacks are hitting every industry hard, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry faces special challenges.
“It’s not one neatly organized server room in one building,” Jamin Valdez, a construction risk expert at Woodruff Sawyer, said in a recent panel discussion on cyber risk in construction. Especially with larger AEC organizations, “You’ve got devices all over the world…1,500 iPads in the field, 2,000 pieces of monitoring equipment in the field.”
This dispersed digital infrastructure has never been more vulnerable. According to recent research from ReliaQuest, ransomware attacks on construction companies shot up 41% between 2023 and 2024, while credential exposure alerts surged by 83%.
However, even as an expanding ecosystem of digital tools has created new points of entry for attackers, it has also given AEC firms exactly what they need to build robust cybersecurity strategies.
Understanding the Importance of Cybersecurity in AEC
Digital tools, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), cloud-based project management platforms, and IoT sensors, are revolutionizing how AEC professionals design, engineer, and construct buildings. However, these advancements have also created new vulnerabilities, as each connected device and cloud service becomes a potential way for cybercriminals to become involved.
The Value of Sensitive Information
The sensitive information collected and generated by AEC firms makes those companies particularly appealing targets for cybercriminals.
From proprietary designs and competitive bid strategies to confidential client details, AEC data represents immense value. And for firms working on critical infrastructure projects for government and quasi-governmental agencies, robust cybersecurity is not just a business priority but a public safety imperative.
Potential Impacts of Cyber Incidents
A successful cyber attack can derail projects, damage client relationships, threaten reputations, and even pose a national security risk. The financial aftermath can be devastating as fees add up for forensic investigators, legal counsel, and more. And that’s not including hefty ransomware payments as attackers seek to profit from costly downtime.
Here’s how to get ahead of the game.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Cybersecurity Posture
Before adding new security measures, you need an honest evaluation of where you stand today.
Inventory of Digital Assets
Start by cataloging everything—design software, project management platforms, mobile devices, and servers. Don’t forget the data itself. CAD files, BIM models, client contracts, and employee information all need protection.
Conducting Risk Assessments
“Ransomware, when it comes in, is an absolute business emergency, and it’s going to affect every person in your business,” Bridget Choi, a cybersecurity expert at Woodruff Sawyer, said in the panel discussion. The question is, how much risk does your firm face in a given scenario, and how can you best mitigate it? “You have to build that contingency into your planning,” Choi said.
Step 2: Develop a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Policy
Your cybersecurity strategy needs clear documentation that everyone understands, from the executive suite to job sites.
Establishing Access Controls
Determine who needs access to which project files and implement role-based permissions. This assessment is especially critical when personnel access project data from multiple locations and devices.
Creating Incident Response Plans
When seconds count, you can’t afford confusion about who is supposed to do what in the event of a major incident. Companies using automated response playbooks contain threats in about four minutes, while those without such plans take nearly five hours, according to ReliaQuest’s recent research.
Step 3: Implement Technical Safeguards
The right tools and practices form a critical line of defense against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Advanced Threat Protection Tools
“This is not the antivirus of old that was signature-based and had to wait until the signatures were updated,” says Xantrion senior cybersecurity consultant John Christly, speaking of the evolution of cybersecurity tools. He points out that the full range of such tools—from security information and event management (SIEM) platforms to endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems—benefit from advanced technologies, including AI, to aid defense.
Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
They’re simple to implement, but software updates are critical because they close known security holes that cybercriminals actively exploit. Create a schedule for updates and ensure the responsible parties stick to it.
Step 4: Educate and Train Employees
A company’s team is its most potent defense against cyber threats. Employees who understand security best practices can spot suspicious activities, maintain proper data handling procedures, and act as an early warning system for potential threats.
Recognizing Phishing Attempts
Phishing remains the leading initial access technique targeting construction firms, accounting for 25% of all alerts, according to ReliaQuest research.
Employees should get the resources and training to recognize increasingly sophisticated social engineering attempts, such as AI-generated emails and audio messages.
Promoting Secure Password Practices
Simple password habits can make all the difference between a data breach and a blocked attempt.
Using unique, complex passwords for every account, regularly changing them, and implementing multi-factor authentication wherever possible creates multiple barriers against unauthorized access. A password manager can make these best practices easy to maintain without sacrificing convenience.
Step 5: Continuous Monitoring and Regular Audits
Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time project—it’s an ongoing process requiring constant vigilance.
Implementing Continuous Monitoring Systems
Deploy systems that alert IT managers to suspicious activity in real time. Modern tools understand what normal behavior looks like in your environment and can quickly flag potential threats.
Conducting Regular Security Audits
Managers should schedule periodic reviews of company security measures to identify gaps before attackers can exploit them. These audits help IT professionals keep defenses strong in the face of emerging threats.
Building Resilience: The Path Forward
When it comes to cyberattacks, it’s no longer a matter of whether they’ll strike a given organization; it’s when.
However, new tools and best practices mean AEC firms are far from helpless. “They’re getting smarter and smarter,” Christly says of the new breed of cybersecurity tools. “That’s a benefit for everybody.”
By approaching cybersecurity with the same methodical care they bring to designing and building structures, AEC firms can create protective frameworks that grow with their businesses.
Find out how Xantrion’s Managed Security services can help.
