The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is currently undergoing a significant digital transformation, with cloud storage emerging as a key driver of change. The latest data insights indicate that AEC firms have markedly increased their data storage capacity, reporting an annual compounded growth rate of 50.3%. This has seen their storage requirements leap from 3.34 terabytes in 2018 to a whopping 25.64 terabytes in 2023. Triggered by the pandemic’s push toward remote working and continued thereafter for its myriad benefits, cloud storage technology has enabled AEC companies to seamlessly manage vast amounts of data, enhancing productivity and facilitating global collaboration.
In particular, the construction sector within the AEC industry has set a precedent for active collaboration via cloud technologies, with a 29-fold increase in cross-team coordination. This leap in data exchange and shared project management underscores the vast potential cloud storage has unlocked for complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Nonetheless, this surge comes with its challenges, as 60% of recurring IT issues are traced back to construction, likely reflecting the broad stakeholder spectrum and governance protocols in need of refinement.
Cybersecurity and the Future of Cloud in AEC
Egnyte’s analysis of over 4,000 companies underscores the critical demand for secure and efficient cloud solutions in AEC firms, necessitated by the upsurge in cybersecurity threats. As Ronen Vengosh of Egnyte reveals, the industry’s lean towards digital tools is a trend with no signs of abating, solidifying the cloud’s role in AEC’s future.
The advent of cloud technologies marks a pivotal turn in AEC, crucial not just for data management but for cybersecurity and compliance. The digital era compels AEC companies to embrace virtualized resources, a move that isn’t just about staying competitive but also about meeting evolving standards. The intertwining of efficiency and security highlights a major industry shift, asserting their equal importance in the push for AEC innovation. This change mirrors a wider tendency to integrate operational effectiveness with stringent security as integral components of modern architectural, engineering, and construction sectors.