HSM IT ServicesConstruction and Trades
Construction companies and trade contractors in Alberta work across job sites, trucks and offices, often with tight schedules and slim margins. HSM IT Services keeps project teams connected and protects estimating, accounting and project data from fraud, ransomware and loss.
Construction and trades businesses rely on technology from bid to closeout. Estimators work with large drawing sets, project managers use scheduling and project management platforms, site supervisors file daily reports and safety forms from tablets, and the office handles payroll, progress billing and holdbacks. Many firms have grown quickly, adding staff and job sites faster than their IT setup has matured. The result is often a mix of personal devices, shared accounts and files spread across email, cloud drives and a server in the office.
The industry is a common target for business email compromise. General contractors, subcontractors and suppliers exchange invoices and payment details constantly, and progress payments can be large. Attackers who gain access to one mailbox can watch conversations for weeks and then send convincing requests to change banking information. Ransomware is also a serious threat, since losing access to estimates, drawings or accounting data during a bid or at month end can cause missed deadlines and real financial harm.
Job sites add their own challenges. Temporary trailers need internet and Wi-Fi, devices are exposed to dust, weather and theft, and workers come and go as projects ramp up and wind down. Onboarding and offboarding need to be fast and consistent so access is granted when needed and removed when people leave. Clear processes, managed devices and secure cloud collaboration help field and office teams stay productive without leaving gaps.
Risks we see most
Payment redirection fraud
Attackers in a compromised mailbox send fake banking changes for progress payments or supplier invoices, often timed to large draws.
Ransomware
Encrypted estimating, accounting and project files can halt bids and billing. Office servers without proper backups are especially vulnerable.
Turnover and access sprawl
Seasonal and project-based staff can keep access to email and files long after they leave if offboarding is not consistent.
Device theft on job sites
Laptops and tablets left in trucks or trailers are frequently stolen, exposing drawings, contracts and employee information.
Unsecured site networks
Temporary trailer networks with default passwords or shared Wi-Fi can give outsiders a path into company systems.
How HSM IT Services helps
- Fast, consistent onboarding and offboarding for field and office staff
- Managed, encrypted laptops and tablets with remote wipe for lost or stolen devices
- Secure job site trailer connectivity and Wi-Fi with separate guest access
- Email security and payment verification procedures to stop invoice fraud
- Microsoft 365 and SharePoint setup for drawings, contracts and project files
- Security cameras and access control for yards, shops and job sites, with backups for estimating and accounting systems
Rules and standards that apply
- Alberta Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
- Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act and Code record-keeping requirements
- Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act (Alberta) documentation timelines
- Owner and general contractor contractual security requirements
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your obligations with your lawyer or regulator.
Services for this sector
Managed IT Services
Our Managed IT Services puts all your technology under one phone call: computers, networks, cloud, cybersecurity, phones, printers, cabling, cameras and access control. We monitor, maintain and support it all for a predictable monthly fee, so problems are caught early and your team can focus on the business.
Learn moreEmail Security
Our Email Security protects your organization from phishing, malware, business email compromise and domain spoofing. We combine advanced filtering, sender authentication with SPF, DKIM and DMARC, account protection and staff reporting tools, so fraudulent messages are blocked and suspicious ones are caught quickly.
Learn moreMobile Device Support
Our Mobile Device Support manages the smartphones and tablets your staff use for email, Teams, field apps and customer contact. We enrol and configure devices, protect company data on both company and personal phones, troubleshoot problems and handle lost or stolen devices quickly and securely.
Learn moreSecurity Cameras and Video Surveillance
Our Security Cameras and Video Surveillance designs, installs and maintains IP camera systems with network video recorders, remote viewing and proper retention. We keep cameras secured and separated from your business network, so your video system protects your property without becoming a way into your computers.
Learn moreQuestions we hear
Can you set up internet and Wi-Fi in our job site trailers?
Yes. We can plan and configure connectivity for site trailers, including cellular or fixed wireless internet, secure Wi-Fi, and separate guest access for subcontractors. Devices are managed remotely, so the setup can be moved or reused as projects start and finish, and we can monitor connections to catch problems early.
How do we protect ourselves from fake banking change requests?
We combine technical and procedural controls. Technical controls include multi-factor authentication, email filtering and alerts for suspicious mailbox rules. Procedurally, we help you adopt a rule that any banking change is confirmed by phone using a number already on file, never one from the email. Staff training reinforces both.
We have a lot of short-term workers. How do you handle accounts?
We build a standard onboarding and offboarding process with your office team. New workers get only the access they need, often through shared mobile devices or limited accounts, and access is removed promptly when they leave. This keeps licensing costs under control and reduces the risk of former staff retaining access.