You connect 12d Synergy to a network server with a CDE integration that keeps files, folders and attributes aligned between on-premises shares and 12d Synergy, or with a migration that moves the shares into 12d Synergy for good. CDE Sync™ handles the ongoing connection and CDE Migrate™ handles a one-time move, both preserving folder structure and version history.
Why civil teams still use network shares
Civil design and survey teams that use 12d Synergy often keep other data on network servers or NAS devices. Survey downloads, point clouds, aerial imagery and third-party data are frequently saved to local shares first. Some organisations keep sensitive asset data on premises, and many have years of past jobs on servers that predate 12d Synergy.
When information sits in both places, people copy files between them by hand. Attributes are rarely added to copied files, versions drift, and designers spend time hunting for the latest survey or the correct base file.
What carries across between 12d Synergy and a network server
CDE Sync™ maps the server's folder structure to 12d Synergy folders and attributes, and keeps the two aligned in the direction you choose. Files saved to a nominated share, such as a survey drop folder, can appear in the right 12d Synergy job, and updates in 12d Synergy can be written back to the server. Version history integrity is maintained, and every transfer is logged.
The network servers and 12d Synergy integration pages describe both connectors.
How to connect 12d Synergy to a network server, step by step
Decide whether the server will stay in use (sync) or be retired (migration into 12d Synergy).
Identify the shares and folders involved and the 12d Synergy jobs they relate to.
Work with your IT team on the secure connection to the server and a scoped service account.
Arrange a 12d Synergy service account with access to the relevant jobs.
Connect both in the CDE Sync™ wizard, or agree the migration scope and target date with Utopia Digital.
Define how folders and file names populate 12d Synergy attributes.
Test on a small folder, check results with the design team, then switch on the schedule or complete the move.
Survey drop folders and large files
One of the most useful patterns is the survey drop folder. Field crews or survey contractors save new data to a known share, and the sync places it in the right 12d Synergy job so designers see it without waiting for an email. The same idea works for imagery and third-party data. Agreeing folder naming for each job keeps the routing simple and reliable.
Civil data can be large, so it is worth agreeing which file types need to move and how often. Some teams sync processed survey outputs only, keeping raw scans on the server. Others move everything to keep one complete record. Our article on connecting a network drive to your CDE covers the sync or migrate decision in more detail.
For legacy jobs, a migration can move selected past projects into 12d Synergy with their folder structure and version history, so the team can retire old hardware. Records that only need to be kept can go to CDE Archive™ instead, where they stay searchable in your own Azure without occupying active storage.
Security for local data
CDE Sync™ streams files without storing them, encrypts data in transit, processes it in the Azure region you choose and uses a service account scoped only to the folders in sync. That suits SOCI-regulated work across transport, energy, water and aviation. Utopia Digital holds SOC 2 Type II and Cyber Essentials. See the Security Trust Portal and the global data region map.
12d Synergy, network servers and the Utopiaverse™
Connecting a network server to 12d Synergy is part of the Utopiaverse™, the connected record Utopia Digital builds across your platforms. CDE Sync™ keeps server and 12d Synergy aligned, CDE Backup™ keeps an independent copy in your own Azure, CDE Migrate™ retires the server when you are ready, and CDE Archive™ captures completed jobs. AI Insights searches local and 12d Synergy content together, with answers that cite the source files. See also How Do I Connect 12d Synergy and SharePoint? and How to back up a CDE.
See a network server connected to 12d Synergy in the monthly live demo, or talk to the team about your environment.
