March 13, 2022

Issue # 488

Back-to-Basics Boot Camp:
Data Security 

While it might not be the most exciting task, making sure your data is safe and secure is of utmost importance. Find out how to lock down your data.

As we near the end of the Back-to-Basics Boot Camp series, we’ve discussed the importance of communication techniques, expectation management, CAD standards, training, and getting organized to maintain a solid CAD management infrastructure. But perhaps we should back up a bit and talk about the often-unspoken core requirement we all must address — securing the data our users produce.

So, in this installment of the Back-to-Basics Boot Camp series we’ll focus on how to protect the valuable data that is produced in the CAD tools we all manage. Here goes.

Image source: AndreaDanti/stock.adobe.com.

Data Security is Crucial

You may be a programming whiz or a BIM lord, but what’s the point if the files you manage are lost, stolen, or revisions become muddled. Managing data may not be the most cutting edge or exciting task we must perform, but if we ignore it we will certainly experience data loss, leading to money and time loss. And, should that occur, what will your senior management team think?

The good news is that having a proactive data security structure requires only a straightforward auditing of your current situation, fixing of any deficiencies, and then repeating that process any time software or systems change. The key problems I continue to see are:

• Accidental deletion/overwrite,
• Localized file hoarding (to get around bandwidth restrictions),
• Cloud data risks, and
• Lack of accessible backups.

Now, we’ll expand these topics into a series of action items. Your task will be to consider any areas where your security controls are deficient so you can start taking corrective actions.

Stopping Accidental Deletion/Overwrite

The most common cause of file security problems I’ve experienced is accidental deletion and/or overwriting of files. If you do nothing else, you must take strong action against these problems by considering the following:

Stop C drive hoarding. The surest way to lose files is to let users store large caches of data on their C drives. When users copy/move files from network drives to their own drives, the chance for many users to lose a file or work on the same file and eventually overwrite files increases exponentially. If someone violates the “No C Drive” policy, put them on notice immediately!

Stop cloud hoarding. When users copy files to their own cloud data storage utility (think Dropbox or OneDrive) the chance of accidental deletion or overwrite is just as high as it is for the C drive case. Consider unauthorized cloud storage violations in the same way you would a C drive storage violation.

Standardize cloud applications to stop hoarding. If users genuinely need to have cloud synchronized data applications to work around bandwidth problems, then implement a corporate standard application. Rather than a private Dropbox account, use Box which has enterprise robustness and better administrative control. Rather than allowing individual OneDrive usage, move to an enterprise level plan that gives IT administrative control. The end goal is to have a standard solution that IT (and you) can control rather than letting users create their own solutions that may not be secure (which we’ll cover shortly).

Review network folder security. Most projects use a network directory structure to manage files and some of those directory folders contain project standards (think blocks, families, standard parts, sub-models, etc.) that should never be deleted or overwritten. The surest way to deal with these types of problems is to review your network security group structures so that only administrators like you can manage the files.

While accidental deletion/overwrite will never be 100% eliminated, it can be greatly minimized by ensuring the above procedures are in place. And by stopping accidental deletion, you won’t have to rely on your backups nearly as much (which we’ll cover shortly).

Next find out how to limit cloud data risks and how to create solid backups — so you don't have to wait for files or redo work.   Read More >>

Tools & Resources

Upcoming Webinar: The Role of Simulation Technology in Digital Twins

When: April 26, 2022. 1230pm EST

AMC Bridge Executive Series continues with a webinar on the role of simulation technology in Digital Twins. Executives from GE Additive, SimScale, Tech-Clarity, and AMC Bridge, will discuss the role simulation technologies play in the accurate modeling of products, systems, and processes for a Digital Twin.  
Register for free >>

VIDEO: Saildrone Uses Siemens Xcelerator

Saildrone uses Siemens Xcelerator to build the next generation of ocean drones. Saildrones are wind and solar-powered autonomous surface vehicles which make cost-effective ocean data collection possible at scale. Watch the video >>

Calling All Undergraduate and Graduate Students!

Vectorworks' global competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in major disciplines related to architecture, landscape architecture, landscape design, entertainment, and interior design who can now submit either new or past projects for a chance to win up to $10,000 USD to go towards education. Find out more >>

Top Architectural Award Announced

Diébédo Francis Kéré, architect and educator, has been awarded the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize. This international prize is awarded each year to a living architect for significant achievement, was established by the Pritzker family of Chicago through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979. The annual award is often referred to as "architecture's Nobel" and "the profession's highest honor." Kéré works to empower and transform the communities he serves through architecture from his base in Berlin, Germany. The architect works tirelessly for social justice and engagement — focusing on the intelligent use of local materials to connect and respond to the natural climate. Learn more >>

Webinar: PLM Status & Trends 2022

When: May 12, 2022. 11am (EDT)

CIMdata, is hosting a free webinar, “2022: PLM Status & Trends.” This webinar will provide insight into the results of CIMdata’s recent global PLM Status & Trends research. The study aimed to deepen the global PLM community’s collective understanding of the status, drivers, and preconditions necessary for companies to derive value from their investment in PLM. The topics to be covered include spending trends, the focus of implementations, value perception, and processes that are enabled, to name a few. Additionally, the webinar will share some of the key potential PLM industry disruptors, including a brief review of CIMdata’s Critical Dozen elements for digital transformation. Find out more >>

PLM Certification

When: May 16–20, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

June 20–24, 2022 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

More dates available.

CIMdata's PLM Certificate Program prepares PLM professionals to address the challenges commonly faced in PLM strategy development and implementation, allowing them to help their organizations realize the benefits of PLM and its enabling technologies, according to the company. Find out more >>

What's New at Cadalyst

Additive Manufacturing: Who’s Who and What’s What in 3D Printing

Part 2 of Series: The 3D printing arena includes a variety of players: from small to large, well-known companies. Find out which companies are using technology that will work for you. By Cadalyst Staff  Read more >>

Fast-Tracking GIS to Quickly Answer Difficult Questions

GIS Solutions: Government, consultants, and users of all kinds can build custom maps showing detailed information on short notice with Maptitude.
By Andrew G. Roe  Read more >>

AutoCAD 2023 Arrives!

New version of AutoCAD promises further automation of processes and collaboration. By Cadalyst Staff  Read more >>

Why Businesses Need a Multifunction CAD Printer

VIEWPOINT: Benefits of leveraging MFP scanning functionality for sharing documents. By Jacob Hardin  Read more >>

CAD Cartoon

— By Roger Penwill                                                                Keep on laughing!

Free Resources

White Paper

Mobile vs. Desktop Workstations for CAD

The Evolving Role of the Mobile Workstation  

It comes down to physics — a deskside can always outperform a mobile workstation. Cadalyst hardware expert, Alex Herrera, looks under the hood of both to break down the pros and cons of each form factor.

Cadalyst Pro Tip:
Training Checklist for CAD Managers

Training is an essential task on every CAD manager's to-do list. But with all those little details to remember, preparing a clear, informative training session can ve overwhelming. Use this handy checklist from CAD management expert Robert Green to help you be successful. 

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