Industry Guide
Manufacturing operations depend on uptime. Unplanned downtime on the shop floor costs thousands per hour — and a single ransomware attack can shut down production lines, delay shipments, and expose intellectual property. Managed IT services give manufacturers proactive monitoring, operational technology (OT) network security, and IT/OT convergence expertise that internal generalists rarely have.
Production line downtime from IT failures or ransomware
Aging legacy systems (PLCs, SCADA) that create security gaps
IT/OT network convergence without exposing operational systems
Protecting intellectual property and CAD/CAM files
Supporting remote monitoring and IoT device management
ERP system (SAP, Epicor, Infor) integration and uptime
Defense contractors must comply with CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification). ISO 27001 and NIST CSF are common frameworks. Some manufacturers also face ITAR export control requirements for technology data.
Manufacturing IT has unique requirements that a general-purpose MSP may not cover. Look for providers with OT/ICS experience, familiarity with your ERP platform, and documented CMMC or NIST CSF capabilities if you serve the defense supply chain.
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Manufacturing companies typically need OT/IT network segmentation, ERP system management, 24/7 uptime monitoring for production-critical systems, industrial cybersecurity (ICS/SCADA protection), and robust backup and disaster recovery. Remote monitoring for IoT and machine sensors is increasingly common.
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is a DoD requirement for defense contractors. If you handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or bid on DoD contracts, you'll need CMMC compliance at the appropriate level. An MSP with CMMC experience can document controls, close gaps, and prepare you for assessment.
Manufacturing typically lands in the $150–$300 per user per month range, higher than standard business plans because of OT network management, industrial security requirements, and ERP system expertise. Facilities with significant server and infrastructure footprints may find per-device pricing more cost-effective.
Some MSPs specialize in OT (operational technology) environments and can monitor SCADA, PLCs, and HMIs alongside traditional IT. These providers understand the difference between patching an office workstation and touching a production control system — critical since downtime on the line is far more expensive than downtime in the office.