Construction Security

Cybersecurity for Construction Companies

Ransomware operators target construction firms because project deadlines force quick payment.

Sherlock Forensics provides comprehensive cybersecurity assessments for construction companies covering ransomware defence, project data protection, subcontractor access management, BIM security and IoT device hardening. Comprehensive security assessments for construction firms with internal networks start at $12,000 CAD. Quick audits for smaller operations start at $1,500 CAD.

Construction companies depend on digital project files, shared cloud platforms and connected job site equipment. Ransomware that encrypts your blueprints, schedules and contracts can halt active projects and trigger penalty clauses. Subcontractors connecting to your network introduce uncontrolled devices. Email compromise targeting accounts payable redirects payment to fraudulent accounts. We assess your entire technology environment and close the gaps that attackers exploit.

Scope Your Assessment Penetration Testing

Threat Landscape

Why Construction Is a Prime Target

01 - Ransom

Ransomware

Construction firms are among the top targets for ransomware because they operate under strict deadlines and rely on digital project files. When ransomware encrypts blueprints, CAD files, project schedules, contracts and financial records, the cost of downtime quickly exceeds the ransom demand. Many construction companies have flat networks where a single compromised endpoint can reach every file share. We assess your network segmentation, backup architecture, endpoint protection, email security and incident response readiness to identify the attack paths ransomware would exploit.

02 - Email

Subcontractor Email Compromise

Construction projects involve dozens of subcontractors, suppliers and consultants exchanging invoices and payment instructions by email. Attackers compromise subcontractor email accounts and send fraudulent invoices with modified banking details. The construction firm pays the invoice to the attacker's account. We assess your invoice verification procedures, email security controls and accounts payable processes to prevent payment redirection fraud.

03 - Bids

Bid Manipulation

Bid documents contain proprietary pricing, cost estimates, supplier rates and project strategies. Unauthorized access to bid data allows competitors to undercut your pricing or attackers to manipulate bid submissions. We assess access controls on bid management systems, document sharing platforms and email accounts that handle competitive information to protect your bidding advantage.

04 - IoT

Equipment IoT Vulnerabilities

Connected construction equipment including GPS-tracked heavy machinery, environmental sensors, security cameras and access control systems expand the attack surface. Many IoT devices ship with default credentials, lack encryption and cannot be patched. An attacker who compromises an IoT device on a job site network may use it as a pivot point to reach your corporate network. We assess IoT device security, network segmentation between job sites and your corporate environment and device management practices.

Our Approach

How We Secure Construction Firms

Network Penetration Testing

We test your internal and external network for vulnerabilities that would allow ransomware deployment, lateral movement and data exfiltration. This includes testing VPN configurations, remote desktop services, file share permissions, Active Directory security and segmentation between corporate, project and job site networks.

Ransomware Readiness Assessment

We evaluate your backup architecture, network segmentation, endpoint detection, email filtering, privileged access management and incident response procedures against current ransomware tactics. Our assessment identifies the most likely ransomware attack paths specific to your environment and recommends controls to break those paths before an attacker can exploit them.

Subcontractor Access Review

We audit how subcontractors connect to your network and access your systems. This includes VPN configurations, Wi-Fi segmentation, cloud platform sharing permissions, document access controls and credential management. We identify where subcontractor access exceeds what is necessary and recommend controls that maintain collaboration without creating security gaps.

BIM and Project Data Security

Building Information Modeling (BIM) files contain detailed structural, mechanical and electrical data that represents significant intellectual property. We assess access controls on BIM platforms, version control security, sharing permissions and data loss prevention controls to protect your project data from unauthorized access and exfiltration.

From the Field

Construction Security in Practice

A mid-sized BC construction firm with approximately 200 employees engaged us for a comprehensive security assessment after a competitor in their region was hit by ransomware and lost three weeks of productivity. Our assessment revealed that their network had no segmentation between corporate workstations, project file servers and job site VPN connections. A single compromised workstation could reach every file share containing active project data. We also found that 14 former subcontractor VPN accounts remained active and that their backup system was connected to the same network segment as their production file servers, meaning ransomware could encrypt backups along with production data. We provided a prioritized remediation roadmap that addressed network segmentation, backup isolation, VPN access governance and endpoint detection.

Pricing

Construction Security Engagements

Quick Audit - $1,500 CAD
Focused external assessment for small construction companies. Covers internet-facing systems, email security, cloud platform configuration and basic ransomware readiness. Delivered in 3-5 business days. Order online.
Standard Penetration Test - $5,000 CAD
External and internal penetration testing for construction firms with corporate networks. Covers VPN security, file share permissions, Active Directory assessment and email security. Order online.
Comprehensive Assessment - $12,000 CAD
Full-scope security assessment for large construction firms. Includes external and internal penetration testing, ransomware readiness assessment, subcontractor access review, IoT device assessment, BIM security review, backup architecture evaluation and executive reporting with a prioritized remediation roadmap. Contact us to scope.

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Cybersecurity FAQs

Why do construction companies get targeted by ransomware?
Construction companies operate under strict project deadlines with contractual penalty clauses for delays. Ransomware operators know this and target construction firms because the cost of downtime often exceeds the ransom demand. Construction firms also tend to have less mature security programs than comparably sized companies in other industries, making them easier to compromise. Flat network architectures, shared admin credentials and unpatched systems are common findings.
How do I secure subcontractor access?
Segment your network so subcontractor devices can only reach the resources they need. Use separate Wi-Fi networks for subcontractors with internet-only access. Require MFA for all cloud platform logins. Share documents through controlled portals instead of granting VPN access. Implement an access review process that revokes subcontractor credentials when their contract period ends. We audit these controls as part of every construction security assessment.
Do construction companies need penetration testing?
Any construction company with an internal network, cloud project management tools, VPN access for remote sites or connected equipment needs penetration testing. A professional assessment reveals the attack paths that ransomware operators, email fraudsters and data thieves would use to compromise your environment. The cost of a security assessment is a fraction of the cost of a ransomware incident or a fraudulent payment.

Resources

Related Reading

Security References

Related Services

Get Started

Protect your projects before ransomware does it for you.

Comprehensive assessments from $12,000 CAD. Quick audits from $1,500 CAD.

Order Online

Scope Your Construction Security Assessment

Tell us about your network, your project volume and your subcontractor environment. We will scope an assessment that addresses your specific risk profile.

Call 604.229.1994
Phone
604.229.1994
Burnaby Office
Burnaby, BC, Canada
Coquitlam Office
Coquitlam, BC, Canada