AI for Engineering Firms
Deploy AI for technical documentation, design analysis, and knowledge management—without exposing trade secrets or proprietary IP to third-party cloud services.
The Stakes: Protecting Trade Secrets
Engineering firms possess some of the most valuable intellectual property in the economy. Design specifications, manufacturing processes, and R&D data represent years of investment and competitive advantage.
LEGAL STATUS
Trade Secret Protection
Trade secrets are protected by law (DTSA, EU Trade Secrets Directive) only if reasonable measures are taken to maintain secrecy. Cloud AI usage may undermine this protection.
ECONOMIC VALUE
Billions at Risk
A single leaked CAD file, formula, or process specification can destroy competitive advantage built over decades. Economic espionage costs US firms alone $400B+ annually.
REGULATORY
Export Controls
Defense contractors and dual-use technology firms face ITAR/EAR restrictions. Uploading controlled technical data to foreign-accessible cloud services may violate export law.
Why Cloud AI Creates Risk for Engineering IP
Loss of Trade Secret Status
Trade secret protection requires "reasonable measures" to maintain secrecy. Uploading proprietary designs to third-party AI services—especially those that may use data for training—could be deemed unreasonable, potentially destroying legal protection.
Model Training Leakage
Many AI providers use customer data to improve their models. Your proprietary information could influence outputs shown to competitors using the same service—a subtle but real form of IP leakage.
Foreign Government Access
The CLOUD Act enables US government access to data held by US companies globally. For non-US engineering firms, this creates a potential vector for state-sponsored industrial espionage concerns.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Cloud AI services have their own supply chains: subprocessors, hosting providers, CDNs. Each link represents a potential exposure point for your most sensitive technical data.
Export Control Violations
For ITAR-controlled technical data, even temporary storage on foreign-accessible servers may constitute an unlicensed export. Penalties include criminal prosecution and debarment from government contracts.
AI Use Cases for Engineering
Tacitus enables these high-value applications while maintaining complete control over proprietary technical data:
Technical Documentation
Generate and maintain technical specifications, user manuals, and compliance documentation. AI assists with drafting while engineers review for accuracy.
Faster documentation cycles
Knowledge Base Search
Query decades of engineering documentation, past projects, and institutional knowledge using natural language. Find relevant precedents instantly.
Preserve institutional memory
Standards Compliance
Check designs against ISO, DIN, ASME, and industry-specific standards. AI identifies potential compliance gaps before costly rework.
Reduce compliance risk
Code Review & Analysis
Analyze embedded systems code, control software, and firmware. Identify potential bugs, security vulnerabilities, and optimization opportunities.
Safer, more reliable code
R&D Acceleration
Analyze research literature, patent databases, and experimental data. Surface relevant prior art and identify promising research directions.
Accelerate innovation
Failure Analysis
Correlate failure reports, test data, and field performance metrics to identify root causes and predict potential issues.
Data-driven quality
Export Control Compliance
For engineering firms subject to ITAR, EAR, or similar export control regimes, the choice of AI infrastructure is not optional—it's a compliance requirement.
ITAR Considerations
The International Traffic in Arms Regulations prohibit unauthorized export of defense articles and technical data:
- • Cloud storage accessible from abroad may constitute "export"
- • Foreign national access (even employees) requires licenses
- • Technical data includes design specifications, drawings, and software
- • Violations carry criminal penalties up to $1M and 20 years
Cortex Compliance Approach
On-premises deployment eliminates export concerns:
- Data never leaves your facility
- Air-gap prevents any external transmission
- Physical access controls you define
- Compatible with existing ITAR compliance programs
The Tacitus Solution for Engineering
Trade Secret Protection
On-premises deployment demonstrates "reasonable measures" to maintain secrecy. Your most sensitive IP never leaves infrastructure you physically control—strengthening, not undermining, legal protection.
Complete Air-Gap Capability
For the most sensitive projects—defense contracts, advanced R&D, pre-patent work—Cortex operates completely disconnected from any network. Zero exfiltration risk.
Audit & Compliance Documentation
Complete logging of all system access and queries. Export-ready audit reports for compliance reviews, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
No Training on Your Data
The AI model is pre-trained and static. Your proprietary designs, formulas, and processes are never used to improve the model. No risk of IP leakage through model outputs.
Deployment for Engineering Organizations
Cortex On-Premises
Deploy in your secure facility with full control over physical and logical access. Ideal for trade secrets and export-controlled data.
- Air-gap capable for ITAR/classified
- Maximum trade secret protection
- Integration with PLM/CAD systems
Cloud Bridge (Non-Sensitive)
For non-export-controlled projects where EU jurisdiction and single-tenant isolation provide sufficient protection.
- EU-only infrastructure
- Isolated tenant environment
- Migrate to Cortex anytime
Customer & Partner Confidence
When your customers and partners ask about AI security—and they will—Tacitus gives you clear answers:
"All AI runs on-premises."
Your technical data never leaves our controlled environment.
"Air-gapped for sensitive projects."
ITAR and proprietary work uses completely isolated systems.
"No third-party data access."
We own and control the entire AI infrastructure stack.
"Full audit trail available."
We can document exactly how your data was processed.
Ready to Deploy AI Without IP Risk?
Let's discuss how Tacitus can help your engineering organization leverage AI while protecting your most valuable intellectual property.