So You’re Moving From On Premises To Cloud

Sep 30

Unplug, Cloud Migration, Laptop, Microsoft Sharepoint

WERE YOU TOLD THAT CLOUD IS A NO-NO FOR DESIGNERS? YOU NEED TO GET A SECOND OPINION.

No, no, no, and no.

Hearing “no” over and over again blows, and you have the sneaking suspicion that it’s not the whole truth. The mere MENTION of working remotely as a designer or engineer is always met with scoffs from your IT department. Why don’t they want to give you access to the remote playground? You can’t help but be jealous—it feels like everyone else in the job market has remote working options, but not you, never you.

Why?

Well, you’ve probably heard something like:

It’s impossible to go remote with CAD files.
It’s a bad idea to put CAD files in the cloud.
It’s too expensive to go Cloud with CAD.

But is that the truth?

It’s undeniable—remote work has an overwhelming net positive on the lives of employees all around the globe. Productivity is higher, work/life balance is healthier, and you can even get away with wearing your awesome Star Wars pajama pants around the clock. Sounds like paradise, right?

Getting left out of the work-from-home club doesn’t make anyone feel good. In fact, it’s the fastest way to crush your soul.

But guess what?

They’re WRONG.

It’s not you or your CAD, it’s them. They’re probably hungry, Starbucks was out of coffee, or they’re on their 20th password reset call for the day with the same person.

EVERYONE can migrate to the cloud, even you, the neglected designer... just be prepared for the journey.

So, the actual question you should be asking is this:

Is it worth it for your design firm to make the great Cloud migration?

CAD compatibility issues in the cloud

The cloud wasn’t built with CAD files in mind.

To go remote, businesses typically have to migrate their digital assets to a Cloud storage service, like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Office 365, Google Drive, and more. Designers and engineers struggle to go remote because... Well, they can’t do that.

Design firms mainly deal with HUGE multifaceted blueprint files, or CAD (computer-aided design) files. Trying to move these into regular cloud storage services breaks the files apart into consolidated pieces, which quickly fills up way too much space, so you’re not getting your money’s worth. It also disrupts the structure of the project, especially when they’re meant to be viewed as 3D models.

The reason? They’re just not made with CAD in mind.

Most cloud storage options are built to work with run-of-the-mill office files (.doc, .jpg, .xlsx, etc.), making them a great option for just about any business that isn’t...Yours.

But like we said, going remote for designers isn’t impossible.

CAD-friendly cloud hosting services

The world has gone digital. The demand for cloud solutions for every platform hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Many of the design programs you’re familiar with (Inventor, AutoCAD, etc.) have implemented cloud solutions to integrate directly with their software. CAD programs that don’t have this feature are able to run on applications like CAD on the Cloud, allowing designers to work on projects from anywhere with an internet connection.

There are multiple remote options available for design firms, but it’s more complex and requires specialized tools. You have to consider:

What application design application does your firm use?
How often are two people collaborating on the same file?
What budget do you have for strong remote computers?

If you’re looking for a more traditional approach, design firms have even opted for remote desktop services, allowing designers to connect to their on-premises server and access their in-office computers from home. This method is a little more roundabout than cloud syncing, and we can’t guarantee there won’t be input lag, but you wouldn’t have to move any of your CAD files to a different location.

Going to the cloud can be expensive

CAD-friendly cloud solutions cost more money.

Migrating to the cloud is already more difficult for designers because they have less options than other industries. Because their only cloud-service options must be CAD-compatible, companies are able to charge more upfront than regular cloud hosting subscriptions. The steeper price point isn’t often polarizing enough to be completely unaffordable, but depending on your design firm’s current standing, it could be out of the cards for now.

Going remote has a lot of technological and budgeting mumbo jumbo for designers and business executives to consider. It's a real pain in the butt to subjectively weigh your options and understand the ins and outs of how cloud services will affect your design firm.

If you want to go remote, you need an expert IT partner who understands your industry to get you there.

SOLUTION:

When it comes to remote work, don’t take no for an answer.

If you’re determined to find a CAD-friendly cloud solution for your design firm, or you’re questioning if it’s worth the journey, you’ll need an IT expert to help paint the picture.

What a coincidence! We’re reasonable. We’re IT experts. We LOVE talking about how to solve complex problems using technology.

AND we love designers.

We’ll help you: Call us.