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When most private equity teams talk about cybersecurity, the conversation usually centers around laptops, cloud platforms, and financial systems. Maybe there's a mention of ERP or CRM. But there’s a critical piece that often gets overlooked – filed technology.
Field technology doesn't work in the silos. It includes the construction management platforms that run day-to-day operations, the jobsite tablets used to submit timesheets, and the GPS-tracked equipment management systems storing maintenance logs and cost data. These tools hold critical, sensitive information, but they’re rarely part of core cybersecurity planning.
Although these tools run across distributed locations to keep the operations moving, when they fail, they don’t just stop the work. They delay project timelines, inflate the costs, and cut your margins.
As the construction and infrastructure sectors adopt more tech, especially mobile and cloud-based tools, attack surfaces expand in ways many firms haven’t accounted for.
Now that’s a massive digital footprint and a growing attack surface. And yet, most of these tools operate outside the IT environment and are governed by operation teams without any cybersecurity expertise.
So, what does this mean for PE firms managing boots-on-the-ground businesses? Let’s break it down:
Many businesses still overlook basic security gaps, including:
These systems are typically owned by operations, and not IT. That separation often creates a governance gap, no one’s quite sure who’s responsible for security. And in cybersecurity, gaps like these are exactly where attackers get in.
Securing field tech doesn’t require a massive overhaul. It starts with a mindset shift and a few practical steps to ensure your portfolio companies are thinking beyond laptops, firewalls, and office-based systems.
Make sure audits include jobsite tech, construction management software, connected equipment, and mobile tools, not just back-office systems.
Ensure every company has a clear, up-to-date list of digital tools, from platforms like Procore and Autodesk to GPS trackers, sensors, and diagnostic devices.
Understand who can remotely access critical systems—especially subcontractors, fleet partners, or equipment rental platforms.
Extend cybersecurity standards like ISO to cover field systems. And where possible, look for partners and vendors that meet SOC 2 Type II compliance—a clear signal of operational and data control maturity.
Make sure there's a clear plan for what happens if a field system fails or is compromised. This should include communication protocols, contingency workflows, and recovery steps.
Don’t leave field cybersecurity in a gray zone. Align ownership between IT and Ops. Governance shouldn’t stop at the server room, and it needs to reach the jobsite.
Simulate cyber incidents based on field-specific scenarios. What happens if your project management system goes down on bid day? Or if GPS fleet data is frozen mid-shipment?
Make vulnerability scans, vendor audits, and patch schedules a regular part of reporting, and never go for once-a-year exercise. Cybersecurity should sit on the same dashboard as project performance and cost controls.
Smart PE firms are already adapting. Some are making cybersecurity part of their post-close value creation strategy, embedding secure practices in their IT and field operations. Others are putting pressure on tech vendors, especially construction software providers, to prove they meet compliance standards like SOC 2 Type II, which helps build trust during diligence and de-risks the exit.
Over $950 million of PE/VC capital flowed into cybersecurity deals in the first half of 2025 alone, with a strong focus on industrial, infrastructure, and operations tech.
The message is clear: securing your field tech is no longer optional; it’s now a competitive advantage.
Read more: Optimize portfolio management and operational efficiency
If your portfolio includes construction firms, industrial contractors, or any company with boots-on-the-ground operations, cybersecurity can’t stop at the office door. It has to extend to the jobsite trailer, the equipment yard, and the mobile apps used to manage schedules, bids, and payouts.
KYRO is built for field-heavy industries, combining operational tools with secure workflows, real-time visibility, and modern compliance capabilities, including SOC 2 Type II. Whether it’s managing forms, tracking assets, or sharing critical data with clients, KYRO helps PE firms keep everything connected and protected.
Because in today’s environment, the biggest risks aren’t always in the boardroom, they’re out where the real work happens.
Want to know more?
Discover how KYRO helps construction and industrial portfolio companies protect operations, reduce risk, and meet SOC 2 standards, without slowing down the work.
👉 Book a quick walkthrough to see how KYRO fits into your operating playbook.
When most private equity teams talk about cybersecurity, the conversation usually centers around laptops, cloud platforms, and financial systems. Maybe there's a mention of ERP or CRM. But there’s a critical piece that often gets overlooked – filed technology.
Field technology doesn't work in the silos. It includes the construction management platforms that run day-to-day operations, the jobsite tablets used to submit timesheets, and the GPS-tracked equipment management systems storing maintenance logs and cost data. These tools hold critical, sensitive information, but they’re rarely part of core cybersecurity planning.
Although these tools run across distributed locations to keep the operations moving, when they fail, they don’t just stop the work. They delay project timelines, inflate the costs, and cut your margins.
As the construction and infrastructure sectors adopt more tech, especially mobile and cloud-based tools, attack surfaces expand in ways many firms haven’t accounted for.
Now that’s a massive digital footprint and a growing attack surface. And yet, most of these tools operate outside the IT environment and are governed by operation teams without any cybersecurity expertise.
So, what does this mean for PE firms managing boots-on-the-ground businesses? Let’s break it down:
Many businesses still overlook basic security gaps, including:
These systems are typically owned by operations, and not IT. That separation often creates a governance gap, no one’s quite sure who’s responsible for security. And in cybersecurity, gaps like these are exactly where attackers get in.
Securing field tech doesn’t require a massive overhaul. It starts with a mindset shift and a few practical steps to ensure your portfolio companies are thinking beyond laptops, firewalls, and office-based systems.
Make sure audits include jobsite tech, construction management software, connected equipment, and mobile tools, not just back-office systems.
Ensure every company has a clear, up-to-date list of digital tools, from platforms like Procore and Autodesk to GPS trackers, sensors, and diagnostic devices.
Understand who can remotely access critical systems—especially subcontractors, fleet partners, or equipment rental platforms.
Extend cybersecurity standards like ISO to cover field systems. And where possible, look for partners and vendors that meet SOC 2 Type II compliance—a clear signal of operational and data control maturity.
Make sure there's a clear plan for what happens if a field system fails or is compromised. This should include communication protocols, contingency workflows, and recovery steps.
Don’t leave field cybersecurity in a gray zone. Align ownership between IT and Ops. Governance shouldn’t stop at the server room, and it needs to reach the jobsite.
Simulate cyber incidents based on field-specific scenarios. What happens if your project management system goes down on bid day? Or if GPS fleet data is frozen mid-shipment?
Make vulnerability scans, vendor audits, and patch schedules a regular part of reporting, and never go for once-a-year exercise. Cybersecurity should sit on the same dashboard as project performance and cost controls.
Smart PE firms are already adapting. Some are making cybersecurity part of their post-close value creation strategy, embedding secure practices in their IT and field operations. Others are putting pressure on tech vendors, especially construction software providers, to prove they meet compliance standards like SOC 2 Type II, which helps build trust during diligence and de-risks the exit.
Over $950 million of PE/VC capital flowed into cybersecurity deals in the first half of 2025 alone, with a strong focus on industrial, infrastructure, and operations tech.
The message is clear: securing your field tech is no longer optional; it’s now a competitive advantage.
Read more: Optimize portfolio management and operational efficiency
If your portfolio includes construction firms, industrial contractors, or any company with boots-on-the-ground operations, cybersecurity can’t stop at the office door. It has to extend to the jobsite trailer, the equipment yard, and the mobile apps used to manage schedules, bids, and payouts.
KYRO is built for field-heavy industries, combining operational tools with secure workflows, real-time visibility, and modern compliance capabilities, including SOC 2 Type II. Whether it’s managing forms, tracking assets, or sharing critical data with clients, KYRO helps PE firms keep everything connected and protected.
Because in today’s environment, the biggest risks aren’t always in the boardroom, they’re out where the real work happens.
Want to know more?
Discover how KYRO helps construction and industrial portfolio companies protect operations, reduce risk, and meet SOC 2 standards, without slowing down the work.
👉 Book a quick walkthrough to see how KYRO fits into your operating playbook.