These applications, crucial for industries such as AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) demand substantial processing power, GPU and secure storage for large design files. In this blog post, we'll delve into why organizations need secure access to CAD software like AutoCAD, Revit, Catia, SketchUp, Solidworks or Inventor (just to name a few) from any device or location, the challenges with existing solutions, and how Sonet.io offers the best solution to address these issues.

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Why Organizations Need Secure Access to CAD Software

CAD applications enable users to design intricate structures, products, and systems with precision and efficiency. However, accessing and utilizing these applications securely, from any location poses several challenges.

Firstly, traditional methods of accessing design software often require expensive, high-performance workstations, limiting flexibility and scalability. The large files associated with design projects require robust storage solutions, expensive GPU and high-speed connectivity, especially when collaborating across distributed teams or accessing files remotely.

Additionally, security is paramount when dealing with sensitive design files and intellectual property. Organizations need to ensure that data remains protected against unauthorized access, leaks, or tampering, especially when employees are working from various locations outside the traditional office environment. In many cases, the project requires multiple engineers to be working on different parts of the project and subcontractors to be involved - which further increases the need to ensure that access can be provided quickly to all those that need it, while security is enforced. 

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Challenges with Existing Solutions

Existing solutions, such as shipping devices and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), present significant limitations and complexities for organizations seeking secure access to design software.

On-prem VDI deployments require substantial investments in hardware, software, and infrastructure to support the processing power and storage requirements of design applications, including expensive GPU. Managing and maintaining on-prem infrastructure can be resource-intensive, requiring dedicated IT teams and regular updates and patches to ensure optimal performance and security. Purchasing devices and shipping them to remote workers combines a lot of the challenges of on-prem deployments (significant investment in hardware, software and infrastructure) as well as the additional costs associated with shipping hardware, maintaining and updating remote machines. 

All of the challenges mentioned above are relevant if you can even acquire machines with the necessary GPU. The combination of the Covid19 Pandemic, AI developments and supply chain constraints have left many organizations struggling to acquire the necessary GPU, with some relying on rentals to fill the gap. The uncertainty around whether you can even supply workers with the necessary resources to do their work only compounds existing challenges with accessing design software. 

VDI solutions, offered by legacy providers like VMware and Citrix, have been adopted for secure access to applications. Legacy VDI solutions are often tied to on-prem infrastructure and lack native integration with cloud platforms, limiting scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. This makes it difficult to onboard users - increasing capacity means that you need to rack and stack hardware, set up and manage individual VM’s, without the convenience of a cloud-based solution. 

The complexity of managing VDI environments, including provisioning, patching, scaling to new users, and troubleshooting, can pose challenges for organizations, particularly those lacking dedicated IT resources. VDI solutions may also suffer from performance issues, especially when dealing with graphics-intensive design applications or large file transfers.

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Why Sonet.io Offers the Best Solution

Sonet.io revolutionizes access to design software by providing a comprehensive, cloud-native solution that addresses the limitations of existing approaches. Here's why Sonet.io stands out:

• High-Performance Computing: Sonet.io leverages high-powered computing resources in the cloud, eliminating the need for expensive workstations or on-prem VDI infrastructure. By harnessing the processing power of cloud-based GPUs and CPUs, users can seamlessly run complex design applications without compromising performance. Users can use any device to access CAD applications, and don’t need to rely on having high-performance devices and GPU made available to them. 
• Secure Storage and Data Protection: Sonet.io ensures the highest standards of security for design files and intellectual property. By eliminating the need for data to be stored or downloaded to local desktops, and layering zero-trust security controls onto all applications, Sonet.io prevents unauthorized access and data breaches. Granular access controls and audit trails provide visibility and control over user actions, enhancing security and compliance.
• Seamless Collaboration and Scalability: Sonet.io enables seamless collaboration among distributed teams by providing instant access to design files from any location, using any device. With elastic scalability, organizations can effortlessly scale computing and storage resources based on demand, ensuring optimal performance and cost efficiency as their needs evolve.
• Reliability and Ease of Management: Unlike traditional on-prem legacy VDI solutions, Sonet.io offers unmatched reliability and ease of management. Sonet.io minimizes downtime and IT overhead, allowing organizations to focus on their core business activities without worrying about infrastructure management.
• Accessible to All Organizations: Sonet.io democratizes remote access to design software by offering a subscription-based, hassle-free solution that is accessible to organizations of all sizes. Sonet.io provides a cost-effective and scalable solution that empowers teams to work efficiently from anywhere.

In conclusion, Sonet.io represents the future of secure access to design software, offering unparalleled performance, security, and scalability. By leveraging cloud-native technology and innovative approaches to infrastructure management, Sonet.io enables organizations to realize the full potential of their design teams while overcoming the limitations of traditional solutions. As the way we work continues to evolve, Sonet.io remains at the forefront, empowering organizations to thrive in a digital-first world.

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