A steel detailing firm shares drawings and models securely with fabricators and contractors by using a controlled platform such as Microsoft SharePoint or OneDrive rather than email attachments or consumer file-sharing, protecting access with multi-factor authentication, giving outside parties only the access they need (often read-only), and removing it when a project ends. This keeps large files moving smoothly while keeping your project data under control. For most firms it is part of managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month. Here is how to do it well.
Detailing is collaborative: drawings and models flow constantly to fabricators, contractors and other consultants. Doing that securely, without slowing projects down, is a core part of a detailing firm’s IT. Here is how.
Use a proper sharing platform
Email attachments are too small for big models and impossible to control once sent, and consumer file-sharing tools are not built for business security. SharePoint or OneDrive, set up properly, lets you share large files through controlled links, see who has access, and keep one current version, which is far safer and tidier than files scattered across inboxes.
Protect access with MFA
Anyone reaching your project files, including outside collaborators, should authenticate securely, with multi-factor authentication wherever possible. That stops a stray or guessed password from exposing your drawings, and it is a simple step that greatly reduces the risk of sharing data outside the practice.
Give only the access needed
Outside parties usually need to view or download specific drawings, not roam your whole file store, and often read-only access is enough. Granting access to just the relevant project folder, at the right level, means a fabricator gets what they need without being able to see or change anything else.
Handle large model files well
Models and drawing sets can be very large, so the sharing method has to cope with big files reliably. A platform like SharePoint handles this far better than email, so collaborators can download what they need without bouncing off attachment limits or resorting to insecure workarounds.
Remove access when projects end
Access granted for a project should not live on forever. Removing external access when a job finishes, and reviewing who can reach what from time to time, keeps your data controlled and avoids a long tail of forgotten permissions. A managed approach handles this so old access does not quietly accumulate.
What to ask a provider
A specialist for steel detailers should be able to answer:
- Have you supported Tekla detailing practices and CAD firms, including their licensing, before?
- How do you keep our Tekla licences, workstations and model server running to a fabrication deadline?
- How do you let us share drawings and models securely with fabricators and contractors?
- What is your response time when Tekla is down and the whole team is stopped?
- Is the price clear and per user, with security included rather than charged separately?
Where to start
If you are not sure where your practice stands, a short review is the quickest way to find out: check that your Tekla licences are hosted reliably and not on a single neglected server, that your workstations and file server are sized for your models, that drawings are shared securely with MFA, and that your backups are tested. Those few checks show where a CAD-aware managed setup would pay off.
The bottom line
For a steel detailing firm, good IT is the difference between hitting a fabrication deadline and missing it. Tekla opens first time for every detailer, the model server stays fast even on the heaviest jobs, drawings reach fabricators securely, and the work is backed up so nothing is ever lost. The technology stays out of the way and the team gets on with detailing.
That reliability comes from a setup built around how detailers actually work, high-RAM workstations, properly hosted licences and models, and tested backups, rather than generic office IT. For a small practice whose whole output depends on a few CAD seats and one file server, a predictable per-user cost for that dependability is far cheaper than a day with the whole team locked out of Tekla.
Why steel detailers choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including engineering and design firms, and we understand how a steel detailing practice works: Tekla Structures, AutoCAD, Autodesk and Graitec licensing, high-RAM CAD workstations, large-model file servers, secure SharePoint project sharing with fabricators, and Datto backup for irreplaceable models. We support firms across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we have been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Want to share models with fabricators securely and easily? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT.