You connect two Autodesk Forma hubs or regions with a same-platform CDE integration that keeps files, versions and metadata in step between them, or with a migration that moves projects from one hub to the other in a single pass. CDE Sync™ handles ongoing Forma to Forma sync, and CDE Migrate™ handles one-off moves, both preserving version history and custom attributes.
Why organisations run more than one Forma hub
Many organisations end up with several Forma hubs. Joint venture partners each bring their own. A business may run separate hubs for different regions or operating companies. A project may have started in a US hub and now needs to sit in an Australian or European hub to meet data residency requirements. In each case, information has to move between hubs that cannot see each other.
Copying between hubs by hand loses version history and custom attributes, and on large projects the volume makes manual copying impractical. Downloading a project from one hub and uploading it to another also creates a new set of files with new dates, which breaks the link to the original record that auditors and clients may rely on.
Sync or migrate between hubs
The right tool depends on whether both hubs will stay in use. If two partners each keep their own hub for the life of a project, an ongoing sync keeps the agreed folders aligned. CDE Sync™ connects two instances of the same platform as easily as two different platforms, with one-way or two-way rules and full audit logging.
If a project or estate is moving permanently, for example from a US hub to an Australian hub, CDE Migrate™ moves it once with files, versions, folder structure, custom attributes and audit trails intact. Our article on Autodesk CDE migration covers moves within Forma in more detail.
How to connect two Forma hubs, step by step
Decide whether you need an ongoing sync or a one-off migration.
Identify the source and destination hubs, projects and folders.
Have each hub's account administrator add a service account to the relevant projects.
For a sync, connect both hubs in the CDE Sync™ wizard, choose folders, map attributes and set the schedule.
For a migration, agree the scope, target date and validation approach with Utopia Digital, allowing enough notice before the target date.
Run a test on a small project or folder and compare versions and attributes in both hubs.
Complete the full sync or migration and confirm the results with a validation report.
Joint ventures with separate hubs
Joint ventures are one of the most common reasons to connect Forma hubs. Each partner has its own enterprise agreement, standards and hub, and the JV may stand up a further hub of its own. Information has to flow between all of them from the first week. A Forma to Forma sync lets each partner keep its own permissions and folder logic while agreed folders stay aligned. At the end of the JV, the record can be captured with CDE Archive™ so each partner keeps the evidence of what was delivered. Our article on joint venture CDEs covers this in more depth.
Data residency between regions
Region moves are often driven by contracts or policy that require project data to sit in a particular country. When data moves between regions, the route matters as much as the destination. CDE Sync™ and CDE Migrate™ stream files directly between hubs without storing them, encrypt data in transit and process it in the Azure region you choose. Our article on data sovereignty and residency covers the compliance side. The available regions are on the global data region map, and Utopia Digital's SOC 2 Type II and Cyber Essentials detail is on the Security Trust Portal.
Forma hubs and the Utopiaverse™
Connecting Forma hubs is part of the Utopiaverse™, Utopia Digital's connected record across every platform. CDE Sync™ keeps hubs aligned, CDE Backup™ keeps an independent copy in your own Azure, CDE Migrate™ moves projects between hubs and CDE Archive™ captures completed projects. AI Insights then searches content from every hub together, with answers that cite the source files. The Autodesk Forma integration page has more, and How Do I Connect Autodesk Forma and SharePoint? covers another common Forma pattern.
See a Forma to Forma connection in the monthly live demo, or talk to the team about your hubs.
