Beyond the Firewall: Why Managed CAD Administration is Your Best Defense

CAD,CAD Data Management,Cloud / January 21, 2026

How Is Your CAD Data Managed?

In today's fast-paced design and engineering world, companies rightly invest heavily in protecting their intellectual property with firewalls, antivirus software, and robust network security. But for teams relying on SOLIDWORKS PDM, your most critical vulnerabilities may lie not on your network's perimeter, but within your vault.

A poorly managed SOLIDWORKS PDM Vault is an invitation to costly errors, production delays, and compliance nightmares. True data defense starts with professional, proactive CAD administration.

Here are the critical pitfalls that a managed administration approach can prevent:

Incorrect User Permissions:

The single greatest source of data loss or unauthorized change. When permissions are confusingly set or over-granted, users can accidentally (or intentionally) delete files, overwrite approved revisions, or access sensitive projects they shouldn't see. A managed system ensures a strict, least-privilege principle is enforced and regularly audited.

Mis-configured Serial Numbers:

The PDM vault's ability to automatically generate unique, sequential file names and document numbers is a core feature. If these serial numbers are mis-configured, they can skip numbers, assign duplicates, or fail to follow company standards, crippling downstream processes like ERP and document control.

Client/Server Version Mismatches:

SOLIDWORKS and PDM are complex, integrated systems. When client workstations (PDM add-in and CAD software) don't precisely match the PDM Server version, users face frequent connection errors, crashes, and potentially file corruption. Managed administration ensures all components are on tested, compatible versions.

Confusing or Poorly Coordinated Folder/File Structure:

When every user or project manager creates files and folders ad hoc, finding the correct version of a component becomes a nightmare. This leads to time wasted, duplicate work, and—worst of all—manufacturing with the wrong data. A managed structure provides a standardized, logical blueprint for all data.

Duplicate Folders/Projects:

A direct consequence of poor structure and ad hoc processes. Duplicate projects or component folders lead to data bloat, confusion over which project is the "active" one, and wasted storage space.

SNL (SolidNetwork License) Issues:

Licensing is a common bottleneck. Mis-configured, un-optimized, or stuck licenses can prevent users from even starting their work, leading to frustrating downtime. A managed service monitors the SNL to ensure maximum user uptime.

A managed CAD administrator doesn't just put out fires; they build a fortress. By dedicating expert resources to the vault’s structure, permissions, and health, you transform your PDM system from a liability into the highly reliable, single source of truth your engineering team needs to succeed.

ARTICLE BY Tanner Knight, CSWE

We bridge the gap between Engineering and IT teams helping you make the right choice for managing CAD in the Cloud efficiently while taking the ongoing burden off your IT department to manage the applications.

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