Mandatory CMMC Level 2 is colliding with CAD-heavy collaboration; A/E/C firms need a practical enclave strategy that protects CUI without slowing workflows.
For Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E/C) companies that support the Department of Defense, CMMC compliance is becoming a mandatory requirement now, not a theoretical future concern. While A/E/C firms don’t always think of themselves as part of the defense industrial base (DIB), many already fall under CMMC scope through infrastructure, facilities, base modernization, or systems engineering work.
The challenge is that CMMC was not designed with CAD-heavy, collaborative engineering workflows in mind. This vast amount of data and the way in which firms interact with this data is intricately interwoven into the fabric of CMMC requirements, making it onerous to implement and if not done well can create friction in day-to-day business practices.
In this port we will review some of the ways in which A/E/C firms are impacted by CMMC requirements and suggest some solutions for lightening the load for these businesses.
Why Engineering Firms Feel the Impact More Acutely
Engineering companies handle large volumes of technical data: drawings, models, specifications, simulations, and calculations. When those files include or support Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), they must be protected under CMMC Level 2, which aligns with NIST SP 800-171.
Unlike traditional IT environments, engineering firms rely heavily on:
- Autodesk tools like AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and Navisworks
- Shared project folders and cloud collaboration
- Distributed teams, including field engineers and subcontractors
- Long project lifecycles with evolving access needs
These realities make compliance more complex than simply “locking things down.” Doing so can slow workflows and fragment teams.
The Virtual Enclave Reality
For many engineering firms, the most practical path to CMMC Level 2 is a virtual enclave, a segregated IT environment where CUI is created, stored, and processed. This approach allows firms to avoid applying CMMC controls across the entire enterprise.
However, enclaves introduce real operational questions:
- Which users need enclave access?
- Which projects and models are considered CUI?
- How do you move data in and out without violating controls?
For Autodesk and Revit users, enclave design matters. Revit models are large, frequently updated, and often accessed by multiple disciplines simultaneously. Hosting Revit inside a compliant enclave—whether via secure VDI, government-approved cloud services, or hardened on-prem infrastructure—can impact performance, collaboration speed, and licensing.
Cloud features like Autodesk Construction Cloud, BIM 360, or file-sharing platforms may not be compliant by default. Firms must carefully evaluate where models live, how access is authenticated, and whether data is being replicated or cached outside the enclave.
Common A/E/C Specific Pain Points
No two firms operate identically: different project types, different client expectations, different subcontractor ecosystems, and wildly different IT maturity. But the pain points tend to be similar: large design files, fast-moving project teams, outside partners, and data that has to move between the office and the field without turning into a compliance incident.
As such, engineering firms often struggle with:
- Legacy project data mixed with CUI and non-CUI files
- External consultants needing access to drawings
- Field access for engineers who don’t sit behind corporate firewalls
- Documentation fatigue—CMMC requires written procedures, not just technical controls
- Performance for secure environments that work fine for office documents, but choke under large Revit models if not properly designed
Moving From Painful to Efficient
It might feel like there is no elegant solution, but there can be! Successful firms start by clearly defining what is and isn’t CUI, then build workflows around that reality. This often entais:
- A dedicated CUI enclave for affected projects, keeping CUI and non-CUI separate
- Controlled file transfer mechanisms that make sharing both in-house and to external partner facile and secure
- Role-based access tied to project assignments that allow the right people in the right environments and non-credentialed individuals out
- Written procedures that reflect how engineers actually work—not idealized IT diagrams
The Bottom Line
CMMC compliance is not just a one-time cybersecurity exercise for A/E/C firms—it’s a workflow and infrastructure decision. Firms that treat it as a checkbox risk disrupting productivity or failing audits. Those that design compliance around real engineering use cases—especially Autodesk and Revit workflows—are far more likely to succeed and stay competitive in the defense space.
