IT Services for Manufacturing Operations
OT/IT convergence, network segmentation, and production uptime monitoring for manufacturers from shop floor to front office.
IT Services for Manufacturing Organizations
Managed IT
Production-aware IT management that understands uptime requirements on the shop floor. We monitor both the business network and the OT infrastructure that keeps lines running.
Learn MoreCybersecurity
NIST CSF alignment, OT/IT network segmentation, and supply chain security for manufacturers meeting OEM security requirements. CMMC readiness for defense subcontractors.
Learn MoreBackup & Recovery
ERP backup, MES configuration preservation, and tested recovery procedures. When a ransomware attack shuts down production, recovery time determines how many shifts are lost.
Learn MoreIT in the Manufacturing Industry
Manufacturing is the most-attacked sector globally, ranking number one in cyberattacks for the third consecutive year in IBM's 2024 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index. The reason is straightforward: manufacturers have low tolerance for downtime, which makes them ideal ransomware targets. When production stops, every hour costs money in lost output, delayed shipments, and customer penalty clauses. Attackers know this. The average ransom payment in manufacturing incidents exceeded $650,000 in 2023, and that number does not include recovery costs, production losses, or the OEM relationship damage that comes from failing to fulfill supply contracts.
OT/IT convergence is the defining security challenge for modern manufacturing. Operational technology systems, including PLCs, SCADA systems, industrial control systems, and manufacturing execution systems, were designed for reliability, not security. Many run proprietary operating systems with no available patches. Many communicate using protocols like Modbus, OPC-UA, and EtherNet/IP that have no authentication built in. As manufacturers connect these systems to business networks for real-time production data, MES-to-ERP integration, and remote monitoring, the attack surface expands dramatically. A phishing email that lands in an HR inbox can become a ransomware payload on a PLC if the network is not properly segmented. Proper OT/IT architecture places manufacturing systems on isolated network segments with industrial firewalls controlling traffic to and from the business network. It does not prevent integration; it controls what can and cannot cross the boundary.
Supply chain security requirements are tightening across manufacturing. The automotive supply chain, including Toyota, Honda, and the domestic OEMs, has been rolling out security questionnaires to Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers since 2022. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework provides the common reference point. Manufacturers in the defense supply chain face CMMC requirements that go further: 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls, documented in a System Security Plan, and verified by a third-party assessor. A 30-person precision machining shop with one DoD subcontract faces the same CMMC assessment as a 500-person aerospace manufacturer. ERP systems like SAP, Infor CloudSuite Industrial, Epicor, and Microsoft Dynamics 365 connect financial data to production scheduling, purchasing, and shipping. The ERP database is a high-value target. Access controls, audit logging, and encrypted backups of the ERP system are not optional when the system holds years of customer orders, pricing, and supply chain relationships.
Verticals: Automotive parts suppliers, food and beverage production, metal fabrication and machining, plastics and packaging, defense subcontractors, chemical manufacturing, electronics assembly
Compliance & Regulatory Requirements
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Major OEMs including Toyota, Honda, and GM require Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers to align with the NIST CSF. The framework covers identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover functions. Supply chain security questionnaires increasingly reference NIST CSF control categories.
CMMC 2.0
Defense subcontractors handling controlled unclassified information must meet CMMC Level 2, covering 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls. Non-compliance disqualifies a company from DoD contract awards. Implementation typically requires 12-18 months from a cold start.
OSHA Electronic Reporting
OSHA's Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses rule requires establishments with 20+ employees to electronically submit injury and illness data. IT systems must support accurate record-keeping and submission to OSHA's Injury Tracking Application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OT/IT convergence and why does it create security risk?
OT (operational technology) refers to the industrial control systems, PLCs, SCADA systems, and manufacturing equipment that run production processes. IT (information technology) refers to the computers, servers, and networks that run business operations. As manufacturers connect these systems for real-time data visibility, the industrial systems gain network exposure they were not designed to handle. A network breach that would only affect business data in a properly segmented environment can reach PLCs and SCADA systems if the networks share connectivity. Network segmentation with industrial firewalls is the standard mitigation.
Does my manufacturing facility need CMMC compliance?
If your facility holds any Department of Defense contract or subcontract that involves controlled unclassified information, CMMC applies to you. This includes machining shops, metal fabricators, electronics assemblers, and any supplier in the defense supply chain. The compliance requirement flows through the prime contractor. If your customer is a prime contractor working on DoD programs, they will require your CMMC certification as a condition of the supply relationship.
How do we back up ERP and MES systems in a manufacturing environment?
ERP and MES backups require capturing both the database and the application configuration. The database holds transaction history, customer orders, and financial records. The configuration holds the customizations, reports, and integrations that took years to build. Both must be backed up, tested for restore integrity, and stored offsite in encrypted form. Recovery time objectives for manufacturing ERP should be measured in hours, not days. A disaster recovery plan should specify which systems come online first and in what sequence.
Related Industries
How secure is your business?
Answer 20 quick questions to see how you score across five critical security areas. Free, no commitment.
Take the Free Assessment ~3 minutesIs your IT covering the basics?
Run through our 30-point checklist to find gaps in your network, security, backups, and more.
Run the IT Health Check ~5 minutes