Cybersecurity for design and construction firms
Most attacks on New York design and construction firms are not sophisticated. They are stolen passwords, fake invoices and ransomware that locks up active project files. We put in place the controls that stop most of them, which are also the ones your insurer now asks about at renewal.
The risks that actually reach firms like yours
Security for a design or construction firm is less about compliance paperwork and more about keeping money, files and projects safe.
- A reused password is stolen and used to read someone's email for weeks before anyone notices.
- A convincing email asks accounting to send a payment to a new bank account.
- Ransomware encrypts the file server the night before a submission.
- The insurance renewal asks about MFA, endpoint protection and backups, and nobody can answer with confidence.
- Former employees and consultants still have access to email or project folders.
- Laptops travel to job sites and client meetings with nothing protecting them if they are lost.
What we put in place
A practical set of controls, chosen because they stop the attacks that actually happen, not to fill out a compliance checklist.
Multi-factor authentication
A second step at sign-in for email, remote access and critical systems, so a stolen password alone is not enough.
Endpoint protection
Detection and response software on every computer that stops ransomware and suspicious behavior, not just known viruses.
Email protection
Filtering and impersonation checks that catch phishing and fake payment requests before they reach the inbox.
Protected backups
Backups kept separate from the systems they protect, so ransomware cannot reach them, and restores that get tested.
Access control
Accounts and permissions reviewed regularly, with access removed the day someone leaves.
Continuous monitoring
Monitoring tools run continuously and flag suspicious activity as it happens.
How we get started
We start with the controls that matter most, and put them in without stopping work.
- Step 01
Assess
We review accounts, devices, email, backups and remote access against the controls insurers and attackers care about most, and show you where the gaps are.
- Step 02
Close the big gaps first
Multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection and protected backups usually come first, because they stop the most common attacks.
- Step 03
Harden and document
We tighten email, access and device settings, and document what is in place so insurance questionnaires are easy to answer.
- Step 04
Keep it current
Monitoring runs continuously, and we review the controls as your firm, your insurer's requirements and the threats change.
Who this is for
Firms that want real protection without turning security into a compliance project.
A strong fit if:
- Your cyber insurance renewal is asking harder questions
- You handle client payments or pay subcontractors and consultants
- Your project files are the business and cannot be lost
- You are not sure multi-factor authentication covers everyone
- You want security handled by the same provider that runs your IT
What you won't have to worry about:
- Filling out the security section of an insurance questionnaire alone
- Wondering whether a payment request is real
- Losing active project files to ransomware
- Tracking which former staff still have access
- Deciding which security products you actually need
Why ELMIDA
Security built into how we run your IT, aimed at the risks design and construction firms actually face.
Insurance-ready
The controls we put in place line up with what cyber insurers ask about: multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection and tested backups.
Practical, not paperwork
We focus on the controls that stop real attacks, not on compliance frameworks your firm is not required to follow.
Fraud-aware
Business email compromise is among the costliest types of cybercrime the FBI tracks, so email protection and payment verification are part of the setup.
Zero-trust access
Access is granted per person and per device, and checked every time, rather than trusted because someone is on the office network.
Microsoft partner
Microsoft 365 security settings, Entra ID and Intune configured by a Microsoft partner, which is where most small-firm security starts.
One provider
Security and IT come from the same place, so nothing falls between two vendors when something goes wrong.
What firms ask before getting started.
Ready to talk about your firm's technology?
Schedule a consultation. We'll review your environment, identify any gaps, and give you a clear picture of what proper IT looks like for a firm like yours. No obligation. No pressure.