Client: Anderson Westbrook Construction Group
Industry: Construction & Engineering
Location: Greater Portland Metro, Oregon
Employees: 85+ across 3 regional offices and multiple field teams
Client Overview
Anderson Westbrook Construction Group (AWCG), a mid-size commercial construction and engineering firm, faced persistent technology roadblocks that were limiting productivity across their offices and job sites. Their IT infrastructure was a patchwork of outdated systems, unmanaged field devices, and disconnected workflows.
Recognizing the growing need for a smarter, more secure and scalable IT foundation, AWCG turned to SMB Technologies — a provider known for blending enterprise-class solutions with boots-on-the-ground support tailored for small and medium-sized businesses.
Challenges
AWCG’s existing IT environment was the digital equivalent of a job site before framing—disorganized, exposed, and holding back the build:
- Poor Field Connectivity: Field engineers and project managers struggled with VPN dropouts and slow access to drawings and plans on shared drives.
- Lack of Device Standardization: Mixed Windows and Mac laptops, rugged tablets, and personal smartphones made management and security nearly impossible.
- Disaster Recovery Gaps: Project files stored locally or on-site left the company vulnerable to data loss.
- Siloed Communication Tools: Teams juggled email, texts, and third-party apps with no central platform for scheduling or documentation.
SMB Technologies’ Solution
1. Strategic IT Roadmap + Project Kickoff
A full vCIO-led audit revealed critical weak points. SMB proposed a phased rollout with zero downtime, starting with endpoint unification and field connectivity.
2. Cloud Enablement & Microsoft 365 Migration
Plans, drawings, and schedules were moved to SharePoint and Teams — offering field teams real-time, secure access to everything they needed, from anywhere.
3. Device Management & Security Stack
- Rolled out a unified device management platform (Intune + JAMF for Mac).
- Enforced MFA, encrypted all devices, and added endpoint threat detection.
- Standardized procurement: rugged tablets and laptops deployed pre-configured.
4. Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Automated cloud backups of all job files and email.
- Created a recovery plan that could restore operations in under 2 hours in case of hardware failure or disaster.
5. Support With a Field-First Mindset
- 24/7 helpdesk with priority routing for field incidents.
- Monthly site visits from SMB's Client Success Manager to field offices for in-person feedback, training, and hardware checkups.
Results
Metric | Before MSP | After SMB Technologies |
---|---|---|
Field Downtime | Frequent VPN dropouts | 98% uptime with cloud tools |
File Access Delays | Avg. 20 mins per request | Instant access via SharePoint |
Device Management Compliance | < 20% | 100% secured and monitored |
Backup Reliability | Manual/local | Automated, cloud-based (daily) |
Productivity | Frustrated and siloed | Streamlined, mobile, and secure |
Client Feedback
"We build buildings. We don’t want to be in the IT business. SMB Technologies gave us a system that just works — in the office, in the field, on the fly. That’s made a huge difference in how fast we can turn around projects and keep clients happy."
— Tony Ramirez, Director of Operations, Anderson Westbrook Construction Group
About SMB Technologies
SMB Technologies provides enterprise-grade IT solutions scaled for the small and medium-sized business market. With a strong presence in Oregon and Southwest Washington, SMB specializes in industries like construction, engineering, healthcare, legal, and nonprofits. Whether it's rugged field deployments, hybrid cloud architecture, or compliance-driven security, SMB helps businesses thrive with smart, reliable technology solutions.