IT challenges engineering firms face
Engineering firms depend on specialized design and analysis software, large shared project files and collaboration with clients and partners. Firms that work on government or defense projects also face contract requirements such as CMMC and NIST SP 800-171.
- Specialized applications and licensing — CAD, simulation and analysis software with demanding hardware and license servers.
- Large project files — Drawings, models and data sets that must be fast to open and safe from loss.
- Client and contract security requirements — Questionnaires, CMMC and controlled data handling.
- Collaboration across offices and partners — Secure sharing without email attachments or consumer file services.
How we support engineering firms
- Workstations
Workstations for CAD and simulation
Machines specified for your applications, deployed and kept updated without breaking licensing or plug-ins.
CAD · simulation - Licensing
License servers and applications
We keep license servers and specialized applications available and coordinate with your software vendors.
License servers - Files
Large-file storage and sharing
Storage, sync and sharing designed for large project files across offices and with external partners.
File servers · SharePoint - Compliance
CMMC and controlled data
Gap assessments, SPRS scoring and controls for firms handling controlled unclassified information.
CMMC · NIST 800-171 - Security
Protection for IP and client data
Managed detection and response, MFA, encryption and data loss prevention for your designs and client data.
MxDR · encryption - Recovery
Versioned backup
Versioned backups of project data and Microsoft 365 so a corrupted model or ransomware event doesn’t cost weeks of work.
Backup · DR
Protecting your designs and your contracts
Your drawings and models are your intellectual property and often your client’s. We help you classify where sensitive and controlled data lives, apply the right access controls and encryption, and document it for client questionnaires. For defense work, our CMMC compliance services cover gap assessments, SPRS scoring and system security plans.
Licenses, large models and export-controlled data
Engineering firms run some of the most demanding software in any office: AutoCAD, Civil 3D and Revit; Bentley MicroStation and OpenRoads; SolidWorks, Inventor and CATIA for product design; and analysis tools such as ANSYS, MATLAB, ETABS and SAP2000. Many rely on network license servers, so a license server outage can stop an entire team even when every workstation is healthy. GPU, memory and storage choices decide how long engineers wait on a model.
Files are large and shared. Projects move between offices, clients, contractors and agencies through Autodesk Docs, Bentley ProjectWise, SharePoint or managed file transfer, and version control matters as much as speed. Backups need to capture project data often enough that a corrupted model doesn’t cost a week of work. Where offices share large models, a local cache or sync appliance can keep them fast without giving up a single source of truth.
Some data comes with legal strings attached. Defense work brings DFARS 252.204-7012 and CMMC requirements for CUI, and technical data controlled under ITAR or the Export Administration Regulations can’t be shared with foreign persons without authorization — which affects where files are stored and who, including IT staff and cloud providers, can reach them. We help you find that data, keep it in a controlled environment and document it. Our system and network engineering team designs the servers, storage and networks behind it.
Why Engineering firms choose CAL IT Group
- Response
A real engineer in under a minute
96%LIVE of calls answered by an engineer in under 60 seconds, and a 20-minute engineer response on every ticket — numbers we publish live on our homepage, because we’re proud of them.
Live metrics · fully transparent - Security
SOC 2 Type II attested
Our own operations are independently audited across all five Trust Services Criteria, and our full security stack with 24×7 NOC & SOC monitoring is included in Managed Care.
24×7 NOC & SOC - Local
Your team, in Huntington Beach
Over 10 years in business, grown 100% organically, with a 100% local team that learns your firm, your applications and your people — with on-site support included.
No call center - Pricing
One all-inclusive per-user price
Help desk, monitoring, security and backups in one predictable monthly price, published on our website — no surprise invoices.
See your price
Related services: system and network engineering, private cloud management and cybersecurity.