IT Services for Architecture Firms: How to Protect Your Data and Systems from Cyber Threats
Learn how Jera IT can provide IT services for architecture firms, allowing you to focus on what really matters.
Introduction
Architecture firms rely on IT to design, collaborate, and deliver their projects. However, IT also poses significant risks and challenges, as architecture firms face a complex and dynamic landscape of cyber threats, regulations, and technologies. Getting the right IT support for architecture firms can be a logistical nightmare. Cyberattacks can cause data breaches, ransomware, denial of service, and other incidents that can compromise the security, privacy, and integrity of the data and systems of architecture firms. These incidents can result in financial losses, reputational damage, legal liability, and competitive disadvantage.
According to a report by the AIA, 22% of architecture firms experienced a cyberattack in 2019, and 14% reported a data breach. The report also found that only 35% of architecture firms had a formal cybersecurity policy, and only 18% had conducted a cybersecurity audit in the past year. These findings indicate that architecture firms are vulnerable and unprepared for cyber threats, and need to take urgent and proactive measures to protect their data and systems.
How can architecture firms protect their data and systems from cyber threats? How can they comply with the relevant data protection and privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU? How can they leverage the latest and best IT solutions and services to enhance their business operations and competitiveness?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and show you how Jera IT can help you secure your IT infrastructure and comply with the NIST framework. Jera IT is a leading IT service provider that specializes in IT support, security, and strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including architecture firms. We have over 20 years of experience and expertise in delivering IT solutions and services that meet the specific needs and challenges of architecture firms.
IT Support Services for Architecture Firms
One of the IT services that we offer is IT support, which is essential for ensuring the availability, performance, and reliability of your devices, networks, and systems. We provide 24/7 IT support and maintenance, as well as remote and on-site IT support, depending on your preference and needs. We also provide co-managed IT support, where we work with your existing IT team to enhance their capabilities and capacity.
Our IT support services can help you resolve any IT issues or problems that you may encounter, such as hardware failures, software glitches, network outages, or security breaches. We can also help you with IT upgrades, installations, migrations, or integrations, ensuring that your IT infrastructure is up to date and compatible with your business requirements. We can also help you with IT training, education, and documentation, ensuring that your staff are well-informed and skilled in using your IT systems and tools.
According to a survey by the AIA, 72% of architecture firms reported that IT support was one of their top IT challenges, and 48% reported that IT support was one of their top IT expenditures. The survey also found that 55% of architecture firms outsourced some or all of their IT support, and 39% reported that outsourcing IT support improved their IT performance. These findings suggest that outsourcing IT support can help architecture firms overcome their IT challenges and reduce their IT costs, while enhancing their IT performance and reliability.
IT Security Services for Architecture Firms
Another IT service that we offer is IT security, which is crucial for protecting your data and systems from cyber threats. We provide comprehensive IT security solutions and services, such as antivirus, firewall, encryption, backup, disaster recovery, and security training. We also help you comply with the NIST framework, which is a set of standards and guidelines for improving the cybersecurity of your organisation. The NIST framework consists of five functions: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. We help you implement and follow these functions, ensuring the security and resilience of your data and systems.
Our IT security services can help you prevent, detect, and respond to cyberattacks, such as data breaches, ransomware, denial of service, and other incidents. We can also help you recover from cyberattacks, by restoring your data and systems to their normal state as quickly and efficiently as possible. We can also help you comply with the relevant data protection and privacy regulations, such as the GDPR, by ensuring that your data and systems are secure, confidential, and compliant.
According to a report by the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million, and the average time to identify and contain a data breach was 280 days. The report also found that the most common causes of data breaches were malicious attacks (52%), system glitches (25%), and human error (23%). The report also revealed that the most effective factors for reducing the cost and time of data breaches were encryption, backup, security training, and incident response. These findings indicate that investing in IT security can help architecture firms avoid or mitigate the impact of cyberattacks, and save time and money in the long run.
IT Strategy Services for Architecture Firms
A third IT service that we offer is IT strategy, which is important for aligning your IT goals and objectives with your business goals and objectives. We provide IT strategy and consulting services, such as IT audits, assessments, roadmaps, and plans. We help you evaluate your current IT situation, identify your IT needs and challenges, and develop your IT vision and direction. We also help you select and implement the best IT solutions and services that suit your needs, budget, and timeline.
Our IT strategy services can help you optimize your IT resources and processes, by ensuring that they are efficient, effective, and scalable. We can also help you innovate and differentiate yourself from your competitors, by offering you the latest and best IT solutions and services, such as cloud computing, Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). These IT solutions and services can help you enhance your productivity, collaboration, creativity, and customer satisfaction.
According to a report by McKinsey, 75% of architecture firms reported that IT was a key driver of their business performance, and 65% reported that IT was a key source of their competitive advantage. The report also found that the most successful architecture firms were those that used IT to enable and support their core business activities, such as design, project management, and client relations. The report also identified four IT capabilities that were essential for architecture firms to succeed in the digital age: data analytics, cloud computing, automation, and collaboration. These findings suggest that developing and executing a strategic IT plan can help architecture firms improve their business performance and competitiveness, and adapt to the changing market and customer demands.
Conclusion
IT is essential for architecture firms, but it also poses significant risks and challenges. Cyberattacks can compromise the security, privacy, and integrity of the data and systems of architecture firms, resulting in financial losses, reputational damage, legal liability, and competitive disadvantage. To protect their data and systems from cyber threats, architecture firms need to adopt a proactive and adaptive IT strategy, that embraces the latest and best IT solutions and services, and that complies with the relevant data protection and privacy regulations, such as the GDPR.
Jera IT can help you secure your IT infrastructure and comply with the NIST framework. We are a leading IT service provider that specializes in IT support, security, and strategy for SMEs, including architecture firms. We have over 20 years of experience and expertise in delivering IT solutions and services that meet the specific needs and challenges of architecture firms. We offer a range of IT services, such as IT support, IT security, and IT strategy, that can help you reduce your IT costs, protect your data and systems, improve your IT performance and reliability, and enhance your innovation and competitiveness.
If you are interested in learning more about our IT services for architecture firms, please contact us today. We will be happy to provide you with a free consultation and a quote. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you.