CMMC Compliance for Manufacturing

CMMC Compliance for Manufacturing Companies That Build America's Defense Supply Chain

Defense manufacturers face a compliance challenge unlike any other industry: protecting Controlled Unclassified Information across environments where operational technology meets IT networks, where shop floor systems connect to enterprise platforms, and where ITAR-controlled technical data flows between engineering, production, and supply chain partners. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. delivers CMMC compliance solutions purpose-built for manufacturing environments -- from OT/IT convergence security to CUI enclave architectures designed around how manufacturers actually operate.

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BBB A+ rated since 2003 | Founded 2002 | CMMC & NIST 800-171 Specialists | Defense Manufacturing MSP

Manufacturing-Specific CMMC

Generic CMMC consultants do not understand CNC machines, PLCs, SCADA systems, or how CUI flows through manufacturing execution systems. We design compliance programs that account for OT environments, shop floor constraints, and production continuity requirements unique to manufacturing.

OT/IT Convergence Security

Modern manufacturing connects operational technology -- CNC machines, robotics, PLCs, HMIs, SCADA -- with IT networks that process CUI. We secure the OT/IT boundary with network segmentation, industrial firewalls, and monitoring that protects production systems without disrupting manufacturing operations.

ITAR Technical Data Protection

Manufacturing companies handling ITAR-controlled technical data -- engineering drawings, specifications, process documents, test data -- need IT controls that prevent deemed exports while enabling the collaboration engineers and machinists need. We implement ITAR-compliant workflows that protect data without paralyzing production.

Supply Chain Compliance

CMMC flow-down requirements mean your subcontractors and suppliers must meet the same certification level. We help manufacturers assess supply chain compliance, implement secure data sharing with suppliers, and manage the flow-down obligations that primes require of their manufacturing partners.

Why Manufacturing Companies Face Unique CMMC Compliance Challenges That Demand Specialized Expertise

Manufacturing companies in the defense industrial base occupy a distinctive position in the CMMC compliance landscape. Unlike professional services firms or software companies where CUI exists primarily in documents and emails on standard IT infrastructure, manufacturers handle CUI across a complex ecosystem that spans engineering workstations running CAD/CAM software, manufacturing execution systems controlling production workflows, CNC machines interpreting controlled technical data to produce parts, quality management systems tracking inspection data for defense components, and enterprise resource planning platforms managing orders, inventory, and shipping for government contracts. This diversity of systems -- many of which predate cybersecurity considerations and some of which cannot be patched or updated without affecting production capabilities -- creates compliance challenges that generic CMMC consultants and standard IT managed service providers simply cannot address. Petronella Technology Group, Inc. has worked with defense manufacturers since 2002, and our CMMC compliance practice for manufacturing is built on deep understanding of how these environments actually operate.

The OT/IT convergence challenge represents the most significant differentiator between manufacturing CMMC compliance and office-environment compliance. Operational technology -- the PLCs, CNC controllers, SCADA systems, robotics, and industrial sensors that run production -- was historically air-gapped from IT networks. But modern manufacturing demands connectivity: CNC machines receive programs directly from CAM systems, MES platforms coordinate production scheduling with ERP systems, quality data flows from coordinate measuring machines to QMS databases, and real-time production monitoring feeds dashboards used by management and customers. This connectivity creates attack surfaces that traditional IT security tools were not designed to address. Industrial protocols like EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, and OPC-UA have minimal built-in security. Many OT devices run embedded operating systems that cannot accept security agents or patches. Production schedules cannot accommodate the maintenance windows that IT systems use for updates. And a security incident affecting OT systems does not just compromise data -- it can halt production lines, damage equipment, or create safety hazards. Our approach to manufacturing CMMC compliance addresses OT/IT convergence through purpose-built network segmentation that isolates OT from IT while maintaining necessary data flows, industrial-aware monitoring that understands normal OT communications and detects anomalies, and security controls appropriate for industrial environments rather than forcing IT security paradigms onto systems they do not fit.

CUI in manufacturing environments flows through pathways that surprise organizations performing their first data flow analysis. A defense contract CUI lifecycle might begin when engineering receives ITAR-controlled technical data from the prime contractor, stored in a CAD vault on engineering workstations. That technical data generates manufacturing instructions -- CNC programs, setup sheets, inspection procedures -- that constitute derivative CUI. These instructions transfer to shop floor systems: CNC machines, CMMs, and MES terminals used by machinists and inspectors who may not think of themselves as handling classified-adjacent information. Quality inspection data flows to QMS platforms that may share data with prime contractor quality portals. Shipping documentation references contract numbers and part specifications that constitute CUI. Procurement data for specialized materials references controlled specifications. Each of these touchpoints expands your CUI boundary and your CMMC assessment scope. Our CUI data flow mapping for manufacturers traces information from receipt through production to delivery, identifying every system, storage location, user role, and transmission path that handles CUI. This mapping determines the accurate scope of your compliance environment and reveals opportunities to reduce scope through architectural changes that concentrate CUI in manageable enclaves.

Enclave architecture for manufacturers requires creative solutions that standard IT enclave approaches cannot provide. In a professional services firm, a CUI enclave might simply consist of a GCC High cloud environment and dedicated workstations -- physically and logically separated from the commercial IT network. Manufacturing environments cannot be so neatly divided because CUI-derived manufacturing instructions must reach shop floor equipment that exists outside any reasonable IT enclave boundary. The solution involves a tiered architecture: a core CUI enclave housing engineering systems, document management, and administrative functions with full NIST 800-171 controls; a production zone with controlled data flows from the enclave to manufacturing equipment through hardened transfer mechanisms; and compensating controls on shop floor systems that cannot implement the full NIST 800-171 control set. This tiered approach, documented with appropriate justifications in your System Security Plan, satisfies CMMC assessors while acknowledging the operational reality of manufacturing. Our manufacturing enclave architectures have successfully navigated C3PAO assessments by demonstrating that the security intent of each NIST 800-171 requirement is met even where the specific control implementation differs from office-environment norms.

Supply chain compliance adds another layer of complexity for defense manufacturers. CMMC flow-down requirements mean that your suppliers, subcontractors, and outsourced manufacturing partners who handle CUI must achieve the same certification level specified in your prime contract. For manufacturers with extensive supply chains -- specialty material suppliers, heat treatment vendors, surface finishing subcontractors, testing laboratories -- managing these requirements across dozens or hundreds of partners represents a significant operational challenge. Many small manufacturing shops that serve as subcontractors lack IT expertise entirely, let alone CMMC-specific knowledge. Primes are increasingly requiring compliance verification from their supply chain, and manufacturers who cannot demonstrate their own compliance while also ensuring supplier compliance risk losing their position in the defense supply chain. We help manufacturers assess supplier compliance status, implement secure data sharing mechanisms that protect CUI during transmission to partners, develop supplier compliance requirements and verification processes, and establish the technical infrastructure for compliant collaboration across the manufacturing supply chain.

CMMC Compliance Services for Manufacturers

Manufacturing CMMC Gap Assessment

Comprehensive assessment of your manufacturing environment against NIST 800-171 controls, specifically addressing OT/IT convergence, shop floor systems, and manufacturing-specific CUI flows. Our assessment team walks your production floor, maps data flows from engineering through manufacturing to shipping, identifies every system processing CUI including CAD/CAM workstations, MES platforms, CNC machines, QMS databases, and ERP modules. We calculate your current SPRS score, document gaps in each of the 110 security requirements, and deliver a prioritized remediation roadmap that accounts for production schedules, capital equipment budgets, and the operational constraints that generic assessments ignore. The result is a realistic compliance plan you can actually execute without shutting down production lines.

OT/IT Network Segmentation & Security

Purpose-built network architecture that secures the boundary between operational technology and IT while maintaining the connectivity manufacturing operations require. We implement the Purdue Model / IEC 62443 reference architecture with industrial demilitarized zones (iDMZ) separating enterprise IT from production OT networks. Industrial firewalls with deep packet inspection for manufacturing protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP, OPC-UA) control traffic between zones. Unidirectional security gateways prevent data exfiltration from production networks. Industrial intrusion detection systems monitor OT traffic for anomalies without disrupting production. Secure remote access for equipment vendors eliminates direct VPN connections to production networks. Our OT security implementations maintain production uptime while establishing the network segmentation CMMC assessors require, documented with network diagrams and data flow documentation that support your System Security Plan.

Manufacturing CUI Enclave Design

Tiered CUI enclave architecture specifically designed for manufacturing environments. The core engineering enclave houses CAD/CAM workstations, document management systems, and administrative functions with full NIST 800-171 control implementation including MFA, FIPS-validated encryption, SIEM monitoring, and role-based access controls. The production transfer zone provides controlled mechanisms for moving CUI-derived manufacturing data from the enclave to shop floor systems through hardened file transfer, print-only access, or dedicated manufacturing terminals. Shop floor compensating controls address NIST 800-171 requirements on systems that cannot support full implementation through physical security, personnel controls, procedural safeguards, and monitoring. This architecture minimizes your CMMC assessment scope to the enclave boundary while documenting acceptable compensating controls for production systems, reducing both compliance cost and assessment risk.

ITAR Technical Data Controls for Manufacturing

IT and security controls protecting ITAR-controlled technical data throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. Engineering drawings, specifications, process parameters, tooling designs, and test procedures that constitute ITAR technical data require specific handling controls preventing access by non-U.S. persons and ensuring data sovereignty. We implement GCC High cloud environments for ITAR document storage and collaboration, access controls verifying U.S. person status before granting access to controlled systems, CAD vault security with ITAR-specific permission structures, controlled distribution mechanisms for releasing technical data to production, and physical security measures for areas where ITAR data is displayed or accessible. Our ITAR controls integrate with your Technology Control Plan and support DDTC compliance requirements while enabling the engineering-to-production workflows manufacturers depend on.

Managed IT & Security for Defense Manufacturers

Complete managed IT and security services for manufacturing companies operating in the defense supply chain. Our managed services include help desk support for both office and production floor users, endpoint management for workstations and manufacturing terminals, server and network administration, GCC High tenant management, Microsoft 365 administration, backup and disaster recovery with RPO/RTO aligned to production requirements, 24/7 SIEM monitoring with NIST 800-171-compliant audit logging, vulnerability management with production-aware patch scheduling that respects manufacturing windows, endpoint detection and response, and DFARS-compliant incident response. We function as your IT department with specialized expertise in both manufacturing technology and federal compliance -- eliminating the gap between generic IT support providers who do not understand compliance and compliance consultants who do not manage IT operations.

Supply Chain Compliance Management

Supply chain compliance programs for manufacturers managing CMMC flow-down requirements across their supplier and subcontractor network. We develop supplier security requirements aligned to CMMC certification levels, conduct assessments of critical suppliers to verify compliance claims, implement secure data sharing mechanisms for transmitting CUI to supply chain partners, establish supplier compliance tracking dashboards for prime contractor reporting, and provide guidance for small manufacturing subcontractors who need compliance support. For manufacturers serving as subcontractors, we prepare you to demonstrate compliance to prime contractor audits and supply chain risk assessments. Effective supply chain compliance management protects your position in the defense manufacturing ecosystem while ensuring CUI is protected throughout the production lifecycle regardless of how many organizations touch it.

SSP, POA&M & Assessment Documentation

Complete CMMC assessment documentation including System Security Plans, Plans of Action and Milestones, security policies, procedures, and evidence artifacts specific to manufacturing environments. Our SSPs document control implementations with manufacturing-relevant context -- explaining how CNC machines in the production zone satisfy security requirements differently from office workstations, how compensating controls address limitations of OT systems, and how tiered enclave architecture meets the security intent of NIST 800-171 requirements. POA&Ms track remediation progress with realistic milestones accounting for equipment procurement lead times and production schedule constraints. Evidence packages organize technical artifacts, configuration screenshots, policy documents, and audit logs in the format C3PAO assessors expect. Pre-assessment reviews validate documentation completeness and accuracy before the assessment engagement begins.

Our CMMC Compliance Process for Manufacturers

Manufacturing Environment Assessment

Our team assesses your complete manufacturing environment -- not just the server room. We walk your production floor, document OT systems, map CUI data flows from engineering through production to shipping, identify every system touching controlled information, and assess your current NIST 800-171 compliance posture. The assessment produces your SPRS score, a comprehensive gap analysis, CUI boundary documentation, and a prioritized remediation roadmap that respects production schedules and capital budgets.

Enclave Architecture & OT Security Design

We design your manufacturing CUI enclave architecture including IT/OT network segmentation, production transfer zones, GCC High cloud migration plan, and compensating control documentation for shop floor systems. The architecture balances security requirements with production continuity, minimizing CMMC assessment scope while ensuring every NIST 800-171 control is addressed. Security policies and the System Security Plan are developed concurrently with technical design.

Implementation & Production-Aware Deployment

Security controls, network segmentation, cloud migration, and monitoring infrastructure are deployed in phases coordinated with your production schedule. We never implement changes during active production runs that risk disruption. Network segmentation proceeds incrementally with validation at each stage. Cloud migration uses zero-downtime methodologies. Employee training covers both IT security requirements and shop floor procedures for handling controlled information. Every implementation step is documented for assessment evidence.

Assessment Preparation & Continuous Compliance

Pre-assessment readiness reviews simulate the C3PAO assessment, testing every control implementation, documentation package, and employee knowledge. We prepare your team for assessor questions about manufacturing-specific controls and OT security decisions. Post-certification, our managed services maintain continuous compliance with real-time monitoring, automated compliance dashboards, and proactive response to regulation changes. Annual reassessment preparation ensures certification renewal without scrambles.

Why Defense Manufacturers Choose Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for CMMC Compliance

Manufacturing OT Expertise

We understand CNC machines, PLCs, SCADA systems, MES platforms, and the operational technology that runs production floors. Generic CMMC consultants treat OT as a checkbox problem. We treat it as the defining challenge of manufacturing compliance, designing solutions that protect production systems without disrupting the manufacturing processes that generate your revenue.

Proven CMMC Assessment Success

Our CMMC compliance practice prepares manufacturers for C3PAO assessment success. We know what assessors look for, how they evaluate manufacturing-specific compensating controls, and what documentation standards they expect. Our clients enter assessments confident because every control has been validated against assessment methodology before the C3PAO arrives.

Enclave Architecture Specialists

CUI enclave design for manufacturing requires understanding both cybersecurity requirements and production workflows. Our tiered enclave architectures minimize assessment scope while maintaining the engineering-to-production data flows manufacturers depend on. Enclave design reduces compliance cost by concentrating full NIST 800-171 implementation on a manageable subset of systems.

Complete MSP + Compliance

Most manufacturers need both daily IT management and CMMC compliance expertise. We deliver both -- help desk, endpoint management, network administration, cloud management, backup and recovery, plus CMMC preparation, NIST 800-171 implementation, and ongoing compliance monitoring. One provider with complete accountability for operations and compliance eliminates finger-pointing between vendors.

Supply Chain Experience

Manufacturers operate within complex supply chains with CMMC flow-down obligations. We help both primes assessing supplier compliance and subcontractors demonstrating compliance to prime requirements. Our supply chain management tools track compliance status across your manufacturing partner network and identify gaps before they become assessment findings or contract risks.

Triangle Manufacturing Heritage

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC since 2002, serving defense manufacturers across North Carolina's Research Triangle, Piedmont Triad, and beyond. The region's concentration of aerospace, defense electronics, precision machining, and advanced manufacturing companies has shaped our practice. On-site support, local presence, and BBB A+ accreditation since 2003 provide confidence in a long-term partnership.

CMMC for Manufacturing FAQ

Does CMMC apply to all manufacturing companies?

CMMC applies to manufacturing companies that contract with the Department of Defense or serve as subcontractors in the defense supply chain. If your contracts include DFARS clauses requiring cybersecurity compliance, or if you handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Federal Contract Information (FCI) on behalf of DoD, you need CMMC certification. This includes manufacturers producing components, assemblies, or systems under defense contracts, as well as companies providing manufacturing services like machining, heat treatment, surface finishing, or testing for defense programs. Even small machine shops that receive CUI-marked drawings from prime contractors fall within CMMC scope. If you are unsure whether your contracts require CMMC, contact us for a contract review that identifies your specific compliance obligations.

How do we handle CMMC for CNC machines and shop floor equipment?

CNC machines and shop floor equipment present unique CMMC challenges because they often run embedded operating systems that cannot support standard security controls like antivirus, MFA, or SIEM agents. Our approach uses a tiered architecture: the core CUI enclave implements full NIST 800-171 controls on engineering and administrative systems, while a production transfer zone provides controlled mechanisms for moving manufacturing data to shop floor equipment. Compensating controls on production systems include network segmentation isolating shop floor equipment, physical security for production areas, personnel controls limiting equipment access, audit trails through MES logging, and secure program transfer procedures. These compensating controls are documented in your SSP with justification explaining how they meet the security intent of NIST 800-171 requirements. This approach satisfies CMMC assessors because it demonstrates deliberate security architecture appropriate for manufacturing constraints.

What is OT/IT convergence and why does it matter for CMMC?

OT/IT convergence refers to the increasing connection between operational technology (production equipment, PLCs, CNC machines, SCADA systems) and information technology (servers, workstations, cloud services, email). In manufacturing, this convergence means CUI-containing data flows from IT systems to OT equipment -- engineering files transfer from CAD workstations to CNC machines, production schedules flow from ERP to MES to shop floor displays, and quality data moves from measurement equipment to QMS databases. This convergence matters for CMMC because it expands your CUI boundary into the OT environment, introduces systems that cannot support standard security controls, and creates attack vectors where OT vulnerabilities could be exploited to access CUI. Proper OT/IT segmentation with industrial firewalls, monitoring, and controlled data transfer is essential for both security and CMMC compliance in manufacturing environments.

How much does CMMC compliance cost for manufacturers?

CMMC compliance investment for manufacturers varies significantly based on current security posture, environment complexity, and CUI scope. Small manufacturers (under 50 employees) with limited CUI scope typically invest $75,000-$200,000 for initial compliance including gap assessment, remediation, GCC High migration, security tooling, and documentation. Mid-size manufacturers with OT/IT environments and multiple production facilities may require $200,000-$500,000+ depending on OT security requirements, enclave complexity, and supply chain scope. Ongoing managed compliance services typically range $5,000-$20,000 per month for continuous monitoring, managed IT, and compliance maintenance. The C3PAO assessment itself costs $30,000-$100,000+ depending on scope. While these costs are significant, they must be weighed against the defense contract revenue at risk without certification. CMMC compliance costs are allowable under FAR and can be factored into contract pricing. Contact us for a specific cost estimate based on your manufacturing environment.

Can a small machine shop achieve CMMC Level 2?

Yes. Small machine shops regularly achieve CMMC Level 2 certification with proper guidance. In fact, smaller environments often have advantages: fewer systems in scope, simpler network architectures, and smaller user populations reduce both implementation complexity and assessment scope. The key for small shops is minimizing your CUI boundary through enclave architecture -- concentrating CUI handling on a small number of properly secured systems rather than allowing it to spread across your entire environment. A typical small shop enclave might include 5-10 dedicated workstations, a GCC High cloud tenant, and controlled transfer mechanisms to production equipment. With focused scope, CMMC preparation can often complete in 4-6 months at investment levels manageable for small manufacturing businesses. We work with numerous small and mid-size shops across North Carolina and have developed efficient approaches that make CMMC achievable without enterprise-scale budgets.

What about ITAR technical data on the shop floor?

ITAR-controlled technical data on the shop floor -- engineering drawings at machine stations, setup sheets, inspection procedures, CNC programs derived from controlled specifications -- requires specific handling controls. Physical controls include restricted access to production areas, visitor management procedures, and security for printed or displayed technical data. Digital controls include access restrictions verifying U.S. person status, encrypted storage on shop floor terminals, and secure deletion when production orders complete. Procedural controls include documented handling requirements, employee acknowledgment of ITAR obligations, and management oversight of technical data distribution. Our manufacturing ITAR solutions balance security requirements with production efficiency, ensuring machinists and inspectors can access the technical data they need while maintaining the controls ITAR demands. We coordinate with your export compliance officer to align IT controls with your Technology Control Plan.

How do we manage CMMC compliance for our supply chain?

Supply chain CMMC compliance requires identifying which suppliers and subcontractors handle CUI, verifying their compliance status, implementing secure data sharing mechanisms, and maintaining ongoing oversight. We help manufacturers develop supplier security questionnaires aligned to NIST 800-171 requirements, conduct assessments of critical suppliers, establish secure portals for CUI transmission to supply chain partners, implement NDAA Section 889 prohibited vendor screening, and create compliance tracking dashboards for prime contractor reporting. For manufacturers who are subcontractors, we prepare you to respond to prime contractor compliance assessments and demonstrate your CMMC certification status. The key is establishing a systematic supply chain risk management program rather than ad-hoc compliance checking, ensuring every partner handling CUI meets requirements before receiving controlled information.

When should we start CMMC preparation?

Now. CMMC requirements are being phased into DoD contracts beginning in 2025, and manufacturing environments typically require 6-12 months to achieve assessment readiness. The combination of OT security implementation, GCC High migration, enclave architecture deployment, and documentation development cannot be compressed into a few weeks when a contract RFP suddenly requires certification. Manufacturers who begin preparation now can spread investment across budget cycles, coordinate infrastructure changes with production schedules, and avoid the rush pricing and limited C3PAO availability that will occur as compliance deadlines approach. Starting early also improves your competitive position -- manufacturers who can demonstrate CMMC certification in proposals have a significant advantage over competitors still working toward compliance. Contact Petronella Technology Group, Inc. for a manufacturing CMMC readiness assessment to understand your current posture and develop a realistic preparation timeline.

Secure Your Position in the Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain

CMMC certification is becoming a prerequisite for defense manufacturing contracts. From OT/IT security to CUI enclave architecture to supply chain compliance, Petronella Technology Group, Inc. delivers the specialized CMMC compliance expertise manufacturers need to pass assessments, protect controlled information, and maintain their position in America's defense industrial base. Do not let compliance gaps cost you contracts.

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