Construction Cyber Incident Response: Same-Day Recovery with Microsoft Intune (Case Study)

Industry

Construction

Challenge

A mid-sized construction company with more than 150 employees experienced a cyberattack that quickly disrupted access to critical systems across both job sites and back-office operations. User authentication failures, locked endpoints, inaccessible file servers, and interrupted cloud collaboration tools created immediate operational risk. In the construction industry, downtime directly impacts active projects, subcontractor coordination, payroll processing, billing cycles, and contractual obligations. With a hybrid IT infrastructure supporting mobile field supervisors, shared devices, and cloud-based applications, the organization faced heightened exposure and the potential for rapid lateral threat movement. The company needed immediate cyber incident containment, secure endpoint isolation, and fast system restoration to prevent extended job site disruption, financial impact, and reputational damage.

Results

Through rapid incident response and proactive endpoint management with Microsoft Intune, the construction company restored systems and returned users to full operational status within hours of the cyberattack. There was no permanent data loss, no ransom payment, and minimal disruption to active job sites. Critical applications, file servers, authentication systems, and cloud collaboration tools were validated and securely restored from known-good recovery points. Because the organization had managed IT services, layered cybersecurity controls, and tested backup and disaster recovery processes already in place, the attack was contained before it could spread further across the hybrid infrastructure. The company resumed normal business operations the same day, protecting project timelines, subcontractor coordination, payroll, billing, and contractual commitments while significantly reducing financial and reputational risk.

Services, Platforms, & Technologies

Infrastructure Resilience, Managed IT, Business Continuity, Cloud Operations, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Microsoft Intune, Endpoint & Mobile Device Management, Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), Next-Generation Firewalls, Email Security & Phishing Protection, Backup & Disaster Recovery Solutions, Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, Incident Response, Ransomware Recovery, Endpoint Management, Identity & Access Management

www.rutter-net.com/services

Data Loss

< 1 Hr

Incident Response

Same

Recovery Day

Ransom

Incident Response & Cybersecurity

Immediate threat containment, endpoint isolation, and credential control using Microsoft Intune -- Stops lateral movement, limits operational disruption, and prevents ransom escalation

Managed IT & 24/7 Monitoring

Continuous infrastructure, endpoint, and cloud monitoring with real time alerting -- Detects threats early, reduces downtime, and protects active job sites

Endpoint & Mobile Device Management

Centralized device compliance, encryption enforcement, and remote wipe capabilities -- Secures job site laptops and tablets, reduces data loss risk, and protects company information

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

Validated backups, defined recovery objectives, and tested restoration processes -- Enables same day recovery, preserves critical project data, and maintains operational continuity

RutterNet_Rutter-Networking-Technologies_construction-it-security-job-site-tablet

Summary

Rutter partnered with the client to stabilize and modernize their IT environment, addressing infrastructure gaps, security risks, and operational inefficiencies. The engagement focused on strengthening network resilience, improving visibility and monitoring, and aligning systems with compliance and uptime requirements. Through a structured assessment and phased implementation, Rutter delivered a more secure, scalable foundation designed to support ongoing growth and reduce risk.

Overview

A mid-sized construction company with more than 150 employees experienced a cyberattack that disrupted access to critical systems supporting job-site operations, field supervisors, accounting, and back-office workflows. Operating within a hybrid infrastructure that combined on-prem servers, cloud collaboration tools, and a highly mobile workforce, the organization required immediate containment and rapid recovery to prevent project delays and contractual exposure.

Because the company was already partnered with Rutter Networking Technologies for managed IT and cybersecurity services, Rutter initiated a structured incident response process within minutes of detection. Leveraging Microsoft Intune for centralized endpoint management, secure identity controls, and rapid device isolation, Rutter contained the threat, protected sensitive construction data, and stabilized the environment.

This case highlights how proactive endpoint management, cloud security architecture, and tested backup and disaster recovery planning enable construction firms to reduce ransomware risk, protect job-site productivity, and maintain business continuity in the face of modern cyber threats.

Industry: Construction
Client Size: 150+ employees
Environment: Hybrid infrastructure + mobile field workforce
Primary Outcome: Rapid containment + same-day operational recovery

The Challenge

The attack disrupted:

User authentication and endpoint access
File servers and project documentation
Cloud collaboration tools
Job-site productivity workflows

For construction, even a few hours of downtime can delay job sites, disrupt subcontractor coordination, impact billing and payroll, and create insurance/contract exposure.

Rutter's Approach

Immediate containment of affected systems and user accounts
Endpoint isolation to prevent lateral movement
Credential resets and enforced access controls via Microsoft Intune
Validation of backups and system integrity
Restoration from known-good recovery points
Leadership updates with clear, real-time communication

Why Intune Was Critical

Construction environments face unique endpoint risks: job-site devices, shared hardware, and high turnover. Intune enabled rapid action across endpoints—isolating devices and enforcing access changes in minutes, reducing the blast radius.

The Results

Systems restored and users operational within hours
No permanent data loss
Minimal job-site disruption
No ransom paid
Same-day return to normal operations

Related Services

Cybersecurity & Incident Response
Managed IT & Cloud Operations
Business Continuity & Infrastructure Resilience