Cloud CAD Solutions

Cloud-Powered CAD for Designers, Engineers & Architects

Run AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, and other GPU-intensive applications in the cloud with enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability. PTG delivers high-performance cloud desktops purpose-built for CAD professionals across Raleigh-Durham and the Triangle.

GPU-Accelerated • SLA-Backed Uptime • Secure by Design • 24/7 Support

The Challenge

Why Traditional CAD Workstations Hold You Back

Engineering and design firms invest heavily in workstation hardware that depreciates quickly, breaks at the worst time, and chains your team to a physical location.

Hardware Costs Are Spiraling

A professional-grade CAD workstation with a certified GPU, sufficient RAM, and fast storage can cost $5,000 to $15,000 per seat. Every three to five years, those machines need replacement as software requirements grow. For a firm with ten designers, that means $50,000 to $150,000 in capital expenditures each refresh cycle — not counting the productivity lost during procurement, setup, and migration. Cloud CAD eliminates this capital burden entirely, replacing it with a predictable monthly operating expense that scales with your team.

Remote Work Demands Flexibility

Architecture and engineering firms across the Research Triangle are increasingly supporting hybrid and remote work models, but CAD applications require computing power that laptops cannot deliver. Designers working from home on underpowered machines experience slow renders, viewport lag, and assembly crashes that destroy productivity. Cloud CAD desktops deliver workstation-class performance to any device with an internet connection — a laptop, tablet, or thin client — so your team can work from the office, home, or a client site with identical performance.

Data Security Risks

CAD files containing proprietary designs, engineering specifications, and client intellectual property stored on local workstations are vulnerable to theft, hardware failure, and ransomware. A single stolen laptop can expose years of design work. Cloud CAD environments centralize data in secured, encrypted datacenters with access controls, audit logging, and automated backups — ensuring your intellectual property remains protected regardless of what happens to individual devices.

Cloud CAD Services

Enterprise CAD Performance, Delivered from the Cloud

PTG's cloud CAD solutions provide GPU-accelerated virtual desktops configured specifically for design and engineering workflows.

GPU-Accelerated Desktops

Dedicated NVIDIA GPU resources allocated to each user ensure real-time rendering, smooth viewport navigation, and responsive model manipulation in AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, CATIA, and other professional design tools. No shared resources means no performance variability.

Secure Data Centralization

All project files, design assets, and engineering data live in encrypted cloud storage with role-based access controls. Files never leave the datacenter — only screen pixels are transmitted to the user's device, eliminating the risk of data loss from stolen laptops or hardware failures.

Access from Any Device

Connect to your full CAD workstation from any device with a browser or thin client. Whether you're at the office, working from home in Cary, or visiting a job site in Durham, your design environment is always available with full performance.

Scalable Resources

Add users in hours, not weeks. When your firm wins a new project or brings on contractors, PTG spins up additional cloud CAD desktops immediately. When the project wraps, scale back down. Pay only for what you use.

Managed & Maintained

PTG handles all infrastructure management including OS updates, driver patches, GPU firmware, backup verification, and performance monitoring. Your designers focus on design — not IT troubleshooting.

Hybrid Cloud Options

Combine cloud CAD desktops with on-premises infrastructure for firms that need local rendering farms or maintain specific compliance requirements. PTG designs hybrid architectures that balance performance, cost, and regulatory obligations.

Industries We Serve

Cloud CAD for Every Design Discipline

Architecture & AEC Firms

Run Revit, ArchiCAD, and BIM applications with full GPU acceleration. Cloud CAD enables real-time collaboration on building information models, with centralized project data accessible to architects, structural engineers, and MEP teams simultaneously across offices in Raleigh, Durham, and beyond.

Mechanical & Industrial Engineering

SolidWorks, Inventor, and CATIA assemblies with thousands of components perform smoothly on dedicated GPU resources. Cloud delivery eliminates the hardware bottleneck that forces engineers to simplify models or wait for renders, accelerating design iteration cycles.

Civil Engineering & Surveying

AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and GIS applications process large terrain datasets and infrastructure models without local hardware limitations. Cloud CAD provides the compute power to handle massive point cloud files and complex site models that choke traditional workstations.

Defense & Government Contractors

PTG's cloud CAD environments can be configured to meet NIST 800-171 and CMMC requirements for organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information. Centralized data controls, access logging, and encryption ensure compliance while delivering the performance engineers need for defense projects in the Research Triangle Park area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cloud CAD Questions Answered

Will cloud CAD perform as well as my local workstation?

Yes. PTG provisions dedicated GPU resources, high-frequency CPUs, and fast NVMe storage for each cloud CAD desktop. Most users experience equal or better performance compared to local workstations, with the added benefits of anywhere access and centralized data management. Latency is typically imperceptible on modern internet connections throughout the Triangle area.

Which CAD applications are supported?

PTG's cloud CAD desktops support all major design and engineering applications including AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, CATIA, Inventor, MicroStation, ArchiCAD, SketchUp Pro, Rhino, and Blender. If your application runs on Windows with GPU acceleration, it runs on our cloud CAD platform.

How is my design data protected?

Project files are stored in encrypted cloud storage with role-based access controls, audit logging, and automated backups. Data never resides on endpoint devices — only encrypted screen pixels are transmitted. PTG's infrastructure leverages SOC 2 certified platforms, and environments can be configured for HIPAA, CMMC, or other regulatory frameworks as needed.

What internet speed do I need?

A stable 10 Mbps download connection per user is sufficient for most CAD workflows. For rendering-intensive work with large model viewports, 25 Mbps or higher is recommended. PTG can also assist with internet connectivity solutions to ensure your Triangle-area office has the bandwidth needed for optimal cloud CAD performance.

How quickly can we get started?

PTG can provision cloud CAD desktops within days. We handle all configuration, application installation, GPU optimization, user migration, and training. Most firms are fully operational on cloud CAD within one to two weeks from initial engagement.

See Cloud CAD Performance for Yourself

Request a free demo and experience GPU-accelerated cloud CAD on your own projects. No obligation, no pressure — just performance you can measure.

Petronella Technology Group • 5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner, CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

PTG Cloud Services and Strategy

Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, but migrating to the cloud without a clear strategy can lead to security gaps, unexpected costs, and operational disruptions. PTG takes a strategic approach to cloud services, starting with a thorough evaluation of your current environment, business requirements, compliance obligations, and growth plans. We help organizations determine which workloads are best suited for public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid architectures, ensuring that your cloud strategy aligns with both your technical needs and business objectives.

Our cloud migration services follow a proven methodology that minimizes risk and downtime during the transition. We begin with a detailed inventory and dependency mapping of your current systems, followed by a pilot migration of non-critical workloads to validate our approach. Production migrations are carefully scheduled and executed with rollback plans in place. Post-migration, we optimize your cloud environment for performance, security, and cost efficiency, ensuring that you realize the full benefits of cloud computing without wasting resources on oversized or underutilized cloud instances.

Security is paramount in any cloud deployment. PTG implements comprehensive cloud security controls including identity and access management with multi-factor authentication, data encryption at rest and in transit, network security groups and firewall rules, continuous monitoring and threat detection, and compliance controls mapped to your regulatory requirements. We also conduct regular cloud security assessments to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities that could expose your data, staying ahead of the evolving threat landscape that targets cloud environments.

Beyond migration and security, PTG provides ongoing cloud management and optimization services. Cloud environments require continuous attention to maintain security, optimize costs, and adapt to changing business needs. Our cloud management team monitors performance, manages updates and patches, optimizes resource allocation, and provides regular reporting on usage, costs, and security posture. We help organizations take advantage of new cloud capabilities as they become available, ensuring that your cloud investment continues to deliver maximum value as technology and your business evolve over time.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.

Additional Questions and Answers

What are the benefits of moving to the cloud for small businesses?
Cloud computing offers small businesses numerous advantages including reduced capital expenditure on hardware, scalable resources that grow with your business, improved disaster recovery and business continuity, anytime-anywhere access for remote and hybrid workforces, automatic software updates and patches, and enterprise-grade security features. PTG helps businesses in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle evaluate cloud options, plan migrations, and manage cloud environments to maximize these benefits while minimizing risk, disruption, and unexpected costs during the transition to cloud-based infrastructure.
How does PTG ensure cloud security for business data?
PTG implements multiple layers of cloud security including data encryption in transit and at rest, multi-factor authentication, identity and access management, network segmentation, continuous monitoring and logging, and regular security assessments. We follow the shared responsibility model, ensuring that customer-side security configurations are properly maintained even when using major cloud platforms. Our cloud security approach aligns with frameworks like NIST, SOC 2, and HIPAA to ensure that cloud-hosted data meets all applicable compliance requirements and industry best practices for data protection.
What cloud platforms does PTG support?
PTG supports all major cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and private cloud environments hosted in our secure data center facilities. We also support cloud-based productivity suites including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Our cloud architects help organizations choose the right platform based on their specific requirements for performance, compliance, cost, and integration with existing systems. We also design and implement hybrid cloud architectures that combine on-premises and cloud resources for optimal flexibility, performance, and cost efficiency.
How long does a typical cloud migration take?
Cloud migration timelines depend on the complexity of your current environment, the volume of data being transferred, and the number of applications being migrated. A simple migration of email and file storage to Microsoft 365 can be completed in two to four weeks. More complex migrations involving line-of-business applications, databases, and custom configurations may take two to six months to complete properly. PTG follows a structured migration methodology that includes assessment, planning, pilot testing, migration execution, and post-migration optimization to minimize downtime and risk throughout the process.
What happens to our data if we need to switch cloud providers?
Data portability is an important consideration in any cloud strategy. PTG helps organizations maintain data portability by using standard data formats, avoiding vendor lock-in where possible, and maintaining comprehensive backups independent of any single cloud provider. If you need to switch providers, PTG manages the entire migration process including data transfer, application reconfiguration, testing, and validation. We also ensure that data is properly removed from the previous provider in accordance with your data retention policies, privacy requirements, and any applicable regulatory obligations.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Petronella Technology Group today for a free consultation. Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle since 2002.

919-348-4912 Schedule a Free Consultation

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606