Security and Commercial Contractors: Worried about cybersecurity? You’re not alone.

Cybersecurity is grabbing the spotlight in the construction industry, becoming the most-searched topic in 2023 with nearly 4.5 million searches.

This concern outstripped searches for Business Solutions and Hardware, signaling a widespread awareness and anxiety about cyber threats.

Mid-Size Firms Face the Greatest Risks

Particularly for mid-size construction companies, those with 10 to 199 employees, the focus on cybersecurity is intense. These companies find themselves in a precarious spot: large enough to attract cybercriminals but lacking the robust IT defenses of larger enterprises. This reality has propelled them to search for effective ways to bolster their cyber defenses.

Top Cybersecurity Concerns in Construction

Across the board, businesses are homing in on computer hacking as their primary concern.

This trend underscores a harsh reality: the construction industry is becoming a prime target for ransomware attacks, resulting in significant business and revenue losses.

Research from Firewall Times reveals that 71% of businesses in the construction and property sector reported experiencing ransomware attacks, marking a 129% increase over two years.

So what can you do?

It may come as a surprise to many, but embracing newer technologies, like Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, can actually increase your security. Here’s how:

1. Quick Fixes for Security Issues: SaaS tools swiftly address and resolve security flaws, offering immediate updates directly without you having to do a thing.
2. Built-in Data Encryption: Data is encrypted whether it’s stored, being sent, or in use, making it secure and inaccessible to folks who should not have access.
3. Maintenance and Storage Offloaded: SaaS tools take care of all maintenance and data storage, including backups and updates, ensuring the system remains secure and up-to-date.
4. Lighter Security Load for Users: SaaS providers manage most of the security on their end, taking one more thing off your plate and keeping your system — always.
5. Cost and Operational Benefits: SaaS is more affordable and scalable than traditional on-premise setups, requiring less upfront and ongoing investment.
6. Compliance Handled by Provider: SaaS providers handle compliance with security standards, again lessening what you’re responsible for — you have enough to do already!
7. Modern Defense Mechanisms: Cloud-based tools are designed to combat current cyber threats more effectively than traditional tools, providing dynamic and strong security measures.

As the construction industry continues to evolve digitally, the shift to SaaS platforms can be a strategic move to bolster your cybersecurity.
That’s one of the reasons the folks at Holmes Electric chose BuildOps:

“If we didn’t have BuildOps and the additional cybersecurity they give our company, we’d be dead in the water.” — Ric Fegurgur, Group Leader, Holmes Electric.

You can see BuildOps in action for yourself. Join one of our weekly group demos and Q&As, held every Thursday. Sign up here.