How One Architecture Firm Got Cyber Secure, Fast

This London-based architecture firm blends bold design with sustainable thinking, delivering large-scale urban regeneration projects that reshape how people live, work, and interact with the built environment.

With a growing team of 70 architects, technologists, and project leads, the studio operates in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment. Collaboration with contractors, consultants, and commercial partners is core to their process, and much of it happens digitally. With cloud tools, remote platforms, and shared data environments at the heart of their workflow, the firm needed security as sharp as their designs.

As the firm expanded its digital footprint to support a growing project portfolio, cracks in its cybersecurity posture began to show.

Patch cycles were inconsistent, with outdated software leaving behind a trail of security gaps. Many employees, skilled in design but not in cyber hygiene, were unaware of how easily a phishing email or spoofed request could open the door to attack. Directors, in particular, had been targeted by impersonation attempts.

To complicate matters further, the firm was bidding on increasingly high-profile projects with government and commercial real estate clients, all of whom demanded stronger security credentials and demonstrable compliance. While they had some cybersecurity tools in place, what they lacked was a joined-up, proactive strategy: one that could protect their systems, educate their people, and prove resilience to external stakeholders.

Lyon Tech took a layered, strategic approach—balancing cybersecurity, productivity, and simplicity. Rather than overwhelming the team with tools, we focused on what would deliver tangible impact fast. Together, we built a managed service stack tailored to the client’s real-world needs:

• Vulnerability Scanning & Reporting: We deployed continuous vulnerability scanning across the firm’s entire environment, from design software and cloud storage to user devices. Each report prioritised risks, tracked remediation progress, and gave leadership confidence that no threat was left unaddressed.
• App Deployment & Patch Management: A centralised system was rolled out to manage application versions and automate updates. No more guesswork or manual installs, every workstation was aligned and secure, whether running CAD tools or standard office software.
• Cyber Awareness & Phishing Simulation: People are the front line. We ran tailored training sessions and phishing simulations to boost employee awareness. Staff learned how to spot red flags, protect sensitive project data, and report threats quickly.

This was about giving the business the operational clarity, security, and internal confidence it needed to grow without hesitation.

Within just a few months, the architecture practice had transformed its IT approach, from scattered and reactive to structured, secure, and forward-thinking.

They no longer relied on guesswork or good luck. Vulnerabilities were identified and closed fast. Updates rolled out consistently without disrupting work. And critically, their team was switched on and engaged in their own security.

The changes also made a tangible business impact. They were able to meet client and regulatory compliance demands with ease. They reduced risk across systems without adding complexity. And they entered new project bids with confidence, knowing they could stand up to scrutiny and deliver securely.

Security wasn't a barrier to growth. It became an enabler.