You connect Procore to a network server with a CDE integration that keeps files and folders aligned between the on-premises server and your Procore project, or with a migration that moves the server's contents into Procore for good. CDE Sync™ handles the ongoing connection and CDE Migrate™ handles a one-time move, both preserving folder structure and version history.
Why builders still use network servers
Many builders run Procore for construction while keeping a network server or NAS for other work. Estimating, engineering and design teams may rely on local files. Site offices with poor connectivity sometimes keep a local copy. Some subcontractors and consultants still deliver work to a shared drive. And many businesses hold years of past project information on servers that predate Procore.
When files live in both places, someone ends up copying between them. Drawings saved to the server are uploaded to Procore by hand, and updates in Procore are downloaded back. Versions drift, and site teams lose confidence that Procore holds the current set.
What carries across between Procore and a network server
CDE Sync™ maps the server's folder structure to Procore folders and keeps them aligned in the direction you choose. Files saved to a nominated server folder can appear in Procore, and updates in Procore can be written back. Version history integrity is maintained as files move between local storage and the cloud, and every transfer is logged.
The network servers and Procore integration pages describe both connectors.
How to connect Procore to a network server, step by step
Decide whether the server will stay in use (sync) or be retired (migration into Procore).
Identify the shares and folders involved and the Procore projects they belong to.
Work with your IT team on the secure connection to the server and a service account with scoped access.
Arrange a Procore service account with access to the relevant projects.
Connect both in the CDE Sync™ wizard, or agree the migration scope and target date with Utopia Digital.
Map server folders to Procore folders and decide how file names and attributes apply.
Test on a small folder, check results in Procore, then switch on the schedule or complete the move.
Bringing past projects into Procore
Many builders adopt Procore for new work while years of completed projects stay on a server. Those records matter for defects, warranty claims and future tenders, and servers are expensive to keep running. A one-time migration moves selected past projects into Procore with their folder structure and version history, so the business can retire old hardware without losing its history.
For records that only need to be kept rather than worked on, CDE Archive™ may suit better, holding the record in your own Azure where it can still be searched. Our article on connecting a network drive to your CDE covers the choice in more detail.
For an ongoing sync, choose the folders carefully. Connecting a whole server rarely makes sense, because most of it is unrelated to any one Procore project. Pointing the sync at specific project folders keeps Procore tidy and makes it obvious to site teams which local folders feed which part of the project. It also keeps each scheduled run fast, because only the relevant folders are checked for changes.
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. Utopia Digital holds SOC 2 Type II and Cyber Essentials. See the Security Trust Portal and the global data region map.
Procore, network servers and the Utopiaverse™
Connecting a network server to Procore is part of the Utopiaverse™, the connected record Utopia Digital builds across your platforms. CDE Sync™ keeps server and Procore aligned, CDE Backup™ keeps an independent copy of Procore in your own Azure, CDE Migrate™ retires the server when you are ready, and CDE Archive™ captures completed projects. AI Insights searches local and Procore content together, with answers that cite the source files. See also How Do I Connect Procore and SharePoint? and How to back up a CDE.
See a network server connected to Procore in the monthly live demo, or talk to the team about your environment.
