Data protection challenges in industrial investment projects

Industrial environments are built on complex networks of collaboration, precision, and innovation. Whether you're designing and building vessels, managing large-scale plant design and construction projects or operating critical infrastructure, you and your network handle vast amounts of sensitive data every day. A balance needs to be struck between taking advantage of increasing digitalization and safeguarding business-critical data.

In collaborative ecosystems, shared projects often require transferring sensitive information between multiple stakeholders, raising the risk of data leaks or breaches. Losing proprietary designs or project data to unauthorized access can mean losing a competitive advantage. The cost of failure can be devastating, from project delays and reputational damage to financial penalties and lost trust.

How to safeguard sensitive data

Some measures that companies use to safeguard their data include implementing robust access controls, encrypting data both in transit and at rest, and using secure collaboration platforms with built-in monitoring and auditing features. Adherence to industry standards like ISO 27001 further strengthens their defenses.

Rigorous third-party risk management and collaboration with trusted partners that take data security seriously add an important layer of security. Third-party design and information solutions should not only meet your technical needs but safeguard your critical project data without fail!

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility

Cybersecurity is not just an internal responsibility, but one that is shared across collaborative networks.

It starts with people, and at Cadmatic we ensure that our employees are well equipped to protect our customers’ data. This year, for example, all Cadmatic employees completed a mandatory Cybersecurity Awareness Training program. The training ensures that every employee, regardless of their role in the organization, is prepared to recognize and address potential data security threats, aligning with both internal needs and customer requirements.

Having employees that are cybersecurity aware is, however, only a first step. You still need systems that work efficiently while maintaining the robust level of security required, especially in distributed design environments. At Cadmatic, we segregate data within applications. This robust capability ensures that each customer’s data is logically separated within our systems.

Data security in distributed design environments

In distributed CAD environments, Cadmatic’s filtered replication functionality allows administrators to easily control access to specific project parts that are relevant for subcontractors’ tasks. Mask boxes in drawings further restrict visibility, ensuring only authorized content is displayed. Additionally, expiration dates for viewer files can be used to control access to designs after project completion, preventing unauthorized use of outdated files. Explore more about these measures in our article Ensuring Protection in Distributed CAD Environments.

Trade secrets can be secured by masking sensitive information or parts of projects to protect IPR.

Single tenancy in SaaS environments

For our SaaS applications, we have adopted logical isolation through our single-tenancy approach, which isolates customers’ data. While we use shared identity providers for convenience, project data storage, permissions, settings, and configurations are dedicated to each customer, providing an additional layer of security.

So, what does this mean in practice?

Logical isolation ensures that each customer’s project data, settings, and configurations are stored in a separate, secure environment. This prevents accidental data leaks or unauthorized access from other tenants (clients) sharing the same SaaS platform. It allows permissions and access control to be customized for each customer's specific needs. This makes it easier to enforce security policies, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. It also prevents performance or security issues in one tenant's environment from affecting others. Lastly, isolation simplifies compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) by ensuring that data storage and processing align with customer-specific requirements.

Conclusion

At Cadmatic, we believe data protection is a team effort – where people, processes, and technology work seamlessly together. No single solution can guarantee the safety of sensitive information. That’s why we pair systems like logical isolation and distributed design capabilities with a strong focus on empowering people through cybersecurity awareness. By working together, we can confidently tackle the challenges of digital collaboration, protect critical data, and ensure innovation flourishes securely in industrial environments. With the right tools and mindset, safeguarding your data is something we can achieve together.