Manufacturing IT Services & CMMC Compliance for Wisconsin & Illinois Manufacturers
Downtime on the production floor costs real money, manufacturers are one of the most-targeted industries for ransomware, and CMMC 2.0 is now showing up directly in DoD contract requirements. Tobin Solutions provides managed IT services, cybersecurity, and CMMC compliance support built around how manufacturers actually operate — ERP systems, production floor connectivity, and the older equipment and legacy operating systems that keep a plant running.
IT Support Built for the Production Floor
Manufacturing IT is different from a typical office environment — a network outage doesn’t just slow down email, it can stop a production line. We support the systems that keep your plant running, not just the front office:
- ERP and MRP system support — keeping the software that runs production, inventory, and scheduling online and performing
- Production floor connectivity — reliable wired and wireless networking across the plant, including areas standard office IT doesn’t reach
- Legacy equipment and older operating systems — many manufacturers run machine controllers and software that can’t simply be upgraded; we know how to support and secure them anyway
- Scheduled maintenance windows — patching, updates, and changes planned around your shifts, not during them
- Help desk support for plant and office staff alike — from the shop floor to the front office
Manufacturing Cybersecurity & OT Security
Manufacturers are a favorite target for ransomware — attackers know that plant downtime creates enormous pressure to pay quickly. On top of that, most plants now run a mix of traditional IT (business networks, email, ERP) and OT (operational technology — the PLCs, sensors, and controllers that run your equipment), and that convergence creates security gaps that a standard office-focused IT provider often doesn’t know to look for.
- IT/OT network segmentation — keeping production equipment isolated from the business network it doesn’t need to talk to
- Ransomware protection and monitoring across both office and plant-floor systems
- Protection for proprietary designs and intellectual property — CAD files, formulas, and process documentation that give your business its edge
- Vendor and supply-chain risk management — controlling third-party access to your network
- Employee security awareness training to stop phishing and social engineering before it reaches your systems
CMMC Compliance for Defense Manufacturers
If your business handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) as a Department of Defense contractor or subcontractor, CMMC 2.0 compliance is no longer optional — it’s being written directly into DoD contract requirements, and that includes subcontractors flowing down from a prime, not just direct contract holders. CMMC is built on the NIST SP 800-171 security controls, and getting there (and staying there) takes real technical work, not just a policy document.
- CMMC readiness assessments — a gap analysis against the required NIST 800-171 controls, so you know exactly where you stand
- System Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) development — the core documentation a CMMC assessment requires
- Implementing the required technical controls — access control, encryption, log monitoring, incident response, and the rest of the 800-171 control set
- Ongoing compliance monitoring so you stay audit-ready between assessments, not just compliant on the day of one
- Support for Level 1, 2, or 3 requirements, including the flow-down obligations that apply if you’re a subcontractor rather than the prime
This works alongside our broader SleepWell Compliance service, which handles the ongoing security scanning and monitoring that both CMMC and general cyber-insurance requirements expect to see.
Managed IT Services for Manufacturers
SleepWell™, a registered trademark of Tobin Solutions, represents our comprehensive range of managed IT and security services — the same services that back this manufacturing-specific approach:
- SleepWell Firewall — managed firewall protection separating your business and production networks
- SleepWell Managed EDR — endpoint detection & response across office and plant-floor devices
- SleepWell DRS — backup & disaster recovery, so a ransomware attack or equipment failure doesn’t stop production for good
- SleepWell Aware — security awareness training for your whole team
- SleepWell Compliance — security scanning and monitoring aligned to NIST 800-171 and CMMC, plus PCI, HIPAA, and other frameworks
Manufacturing IT FAQ
Common questions from Wisconsin and Illinois manufacturers evaluating IT support.
What IT services do manufacturers need?
Most manufacturers need support across three areas: day-to-day managed IT (help desk, network management, ERP support), cybersecurity for both office and production systems, and reliable backup & disaster recovery so equipment failure or an attack doesn’t halt production. We provide all three as one coordinated service.
Do we need CMMC certification, and can you help us get there?
If you handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) as a DoD contractor or subcontractor, CMMC 2.0 compliance is now being written directly into contract requirements — including for subcontractors flowing down from a prime. We help you assess your current gap against the required NIST 800-171 controls, build the System Security Plan and remediation roadmap, and implement the technical safeguards needed to get and stay compliant.
How is manufacturing cybersecurity different from typical office IT security?
Manufacturers run operational technology (OT) — PLCs, sensors, and machine controllers — alongside standard business IT. That combination needs network segmentation and monitoring that a generic office-only security approach doesn’t cover, plus support for legacy equipment that can’t always be patched the way office systems can.
What is OT security and does my manufacturing business need it?
OT (operational technology) security protects the equipment that actually runs production — controllers, sensors, and industrial systems — separately from your office network. If your plant floor equipment connects to your network in any way, segmenting and monitoring that connection is one of the highest-impact security steps you can take.
Can you support our ERP and production floor systems?
Yes. We support the ERP/MRP platforms manufacturers rely on for production and inventory, along with the networking that connects production floor equipment — including older machines and legacy operating systems that many IT providers won’t touch.
How do we get started with managed IT services for our manufacturing business?
Start with a manufacturing IT assessment. We’ll review your current network, production systems, and security posture, then recommend a plan built around your plant’s specific equipment and workflows.
Get Started With Manufacturing IT Services in Wisconsin & Illinois
Downtime on the plant floor isn’t an option. Contact us today to schedule a manufacturing IT assessment for your Wisconsin or Illinois facility.