October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—and for architecture firms in Salt Lake City, it’s more than just a reminder. It’s a wake-up call.
In our line of work, client trust is everything. But when your BIM files won't load, your cloud storage crawls, or a security breach puts multi-million-dollar project plans at risk, that trust evaporates fast. Let’s face it—you didn’t get into architecture to troubleshoot software issues or lose sleep over ransomware. But here we are.
The truth? Most IT failures don’t come from elite cybercriminals. They come from the same everyday habits that slow your team down: reusing passwords, skipping software updates, and clicking that one bad email.
At Qual IT, we work with architectural firms across Salt Lake City to create seamless, secure, cloud-enabled workflows. And these are the four cybersecurity habits we coach our clients to master:
- Communication
Security doesn’t start in the server room. It starts in your studio.
If your team isn’t talking openly about IT risks, you’re already vulnerable. Creating a cybersecurity-aware culture starts with simple, consistent communication:
- Add a 60-second security update to your weekly team huddle. Talk about a recent phishing scam targeting AEC firms.
- Share real-world stories—like the Utah-based design firm that got locked out of their render library due to ransomware.
- Use architectural analogies: "If BIM is the blueprint, your password is the door lock."
When you turn cybersecurity into a shared conversation, you turn every employee into your first line of defense.
- Compliance
Whether you’re presenting to a hospital board or designing a government facility, you handle sensitive data. And with that comes compliance responsibilities.
Even if your firm isn’t in healthcare or finance, your clients still expect you to protect their intellectual property. Falling short here doesn't just risk fines—it risks losing their business.
Make compliance real by:
- Reviewing your IT policies quarterly, especially around data access and remote work.
- Documenting staff training on secure software use.
- Ensuring your tools (like Revit or AutoCAD) are licensed properly and run on secure, updated platforms.
This isn't just an IT checkbox. It’s a commitment to professional integrity.
- Continuity
Imagine it's the night before a major presentation, and your entire project file goes offline.
Do you have a backup plan?
Business continuity isn’t just about disaster recovery—it’s about preventing design delays, client frustration, and reputational damage.
For architectural firms in Salt Lake City, continuity should include:
- Daily automatic backups of all critical project files.
- A tested disaster recovery plan (that includes access to remote workstations during outages).
- Quick file restoration protocols—because sometimes you just need that one model back now.
If your IT provider can’t walk you through your recovery process in under 3 minutes, it’s time to reassess.
- Culture
At the end of the day, your team is your best defense.
You don’t need everyone to become cybersecurity experts. You just need them to care. And that starts with a tech culture that rewards smart behavior:
- Promote use of password managers instead of sticky notes.
- Turn on MFA (multi-factor authentication) across all accounts.
- Acknowledge team members who report phishing emails—make it part of your studio’s internal newsletter.
Security isn’t a task. It’s a mindset.
Your Firm Deserves Better IT
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to ask yourself: Is our IT setup protecting our designs—or putting them at risk?
At Qual IT, we specialize in managed IT services for architectural firms in Salt Lake City. We understand the pressures you face: tight deadlines, massive 3D files, and clients who expect perfection.
If your tech is holding you back, let’s fix it.
Click here to schedule your free network assessment with Qual IT.
Let’s design an IT strategy as seamless as your next build.
