No Limit Systems
Manufacturing
IT Built for the Realities of the Shop Floor
Wisconsin manufacturers need uptime-first infrastructure, IT/OT segmentation, secure ERP and MES access, and plant Wi-Fi that handles ruggedized devices and metal interference. Generic SMB IT doesn't survive the shop floor. We design for it.
IT/OT network segmentation that protects production
ERP & MES access security, MFA, and audit logging
Plant Wi-Fi designed for the shop floor, not the office
Supply-chain cyber readiness (NIST 800-171, CMMC paths)
The Problem
Most MSPs Don't Understand Production Environments
Office IT and plant IT are different disciplines. The first time an MSP pushes a Windows update to a machine controlling production, you learn this the hard way. Manufacturers also face supply-chain cyber audits, customer security questionnaires, and ransomware groups that specifically target operational technology because downtime is leverage.
What Usually Happens
- Office network and shop floor share the same flat LAN
- HMIs and PLCs reachable from any laptop with credentials
- Windows updates pushed to machine-control PCs without testing
- ERP credentials shared between office staff and floor supervisors
- Customer security questionnaires answered with optimistic guesses
- Backup includes file shares but not the actual production-critical systems
What We Build
- VLAN-segmented network with strict IT/OT firewall rules
- Jump-host architecture for OT access with full audit logging
- Patching policy that protects production windows and tested rings
- Per-user ERP/MES credentials with MFA and role-based access
- Documented controls aligned to NIST 800-171 / CMMC for supply-chain audits
- Backup & DR covering production-critical systems with tested restores
What We Support
The Manufacturing Tech Stack
From corporate IT to production-floor infrastructure, security to supply-chain compliance — here's what we typically take ownership of for Wisconsin manufacturers.
IT/OT Network Architecture
- Purdue model-aligned network segmentation
- VLANs for office, OT, IoT, security cameras, guest
- Firewall rules limiting east-west OT traffic
- Jump host / bastion architecture for OT vendor access
- Network monitoring & anomaly detection
ERP & Production Systems
- ERP access security (MFA, conditional access, RBAC)
- MES & SCADA integration without flattening security
- Vendor coordination during ERP upgrades & migrations
- Database backup & transaction log management
- EDI & B2B integration support
Plant Floor Infrastructure
- Industrial Wi-Fi designed for metal & interference
- Ruggedized handheld & tablet device management
- Barcode scanner / RFID infrastructure
- Industrial PoE switching with managed redundancy
- Cellular/4G LTE failover for critical sites
Cybersecurity & Compliance
- NIST 800-171 / CMMC L1-L2 readiness assessment
- Supply-chain customer security questionnaire support
- Endpoint detection & response (EDR/XDR)
- Backup & DR with documented recovery time objectives
- Cyber-insurance application support
Compliance & Supply Chain
The Frameworks Your Customers Are Auditing Against
Manufacturing supply chains have become a primary cybersecurity battleground. Your customers are auditing you. Your insurers are demanding documentation. Your competitors are losing contracts because their cyber posture won't pass review. We help you stay on the right side of that line.
NIST 800-171
Required for any manufacturer handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), typically tied to defense supply chains. We assess gaps, remediate, and document for assessor review.
CMMC L1 & L2
For DoD contractors, CMMC certification is becoming mandatory. We help you understand your scope, implement required controls, and prepare for third-party assessment without consultant-level pricing.
Supply-Chain Cybersecurity Questionnaires
Major OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers send 50–200 question security audits to their suppliers. We help you answer them honestly with documentation that supports the answers.
ITAR & Export Controls
If you produce ITAR-controlled items, technical data must be segregated from non-US-person access. We design network segmentation and access controls aligned to ITAR requirements.
Wisconsin § 134.98
State data breach notification applies to manufacturers handling employee, customer, or supplier PII. We build incident response plans aligned to the statute.
Cyber Insurance Readiness
Manufacturing has become a top ransomware target, and premiums have followed. Honest, well-documented security posture lowers your premium and ensures coverage actually triggers when you need it.
Who We Serve
Wisconsin Manufacturers of Every Type
From discrete and process manufacturers to job shops, contract manufacturers, and food production. Wisconsin's manufacturing base is one of the most diverse in the country — we work across the spectrum.
Discrete manufacturing
Process manufacturing
Custom & job-shop manufacturing
Metal fabrication & machining
Plastic manufacturing
Food production & packaging
Industrial assembly
Contract manufacturing
Related Services
Our Full Service Portfolio
FAQ
Common Questions from Wisconsin Manufacturers
What's IT/OT segmentation and why does it matter?
IT (information technology) is your office network: laptops, email, file shares. OT (operational technology) is your production network: PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, machine controllers. When they share a flat network, a single phishing email on the office side can take down production. Segmentation enforces firewall rules between the two so a compromise on one side is contained, not catastrophic.
Can you support our existing ERP system?
Yes. We don't replace your ERP, but we manage the underlying infrastructure (servers, network, security, access controls), coordinate with your ERP vendor on issues, and handle user provisioning and offboarding. We support both on-prem and cloud ERP deployments.
What about NIST 800-171 or CMMC compliance?
We're not a CMMC C3PAO (third-party assessor), but we help you implement the underlying controls and prepare for assessment. For most manufacturers we work with, our role is gap assessment, remediation, and documentation. If you need a formal CMMC assessment, we coordinate with assessor partners.
How do you handle Windows updates on production-critical machines?
Carefully and on your schedule. We use staged patching rings, test patches in non-production environments first, and coordinate update windows around production schedules. For machines that absolutely cannot be patched (legacy controls), we isolate them with strict network segmentation and compensating controls.
Do you handle customer security questionnaires?
Yes. We provide the documentation, technical evidence, and policy artifacts your customers' security teams ask for. We help you answer the questionnaire honestly, then close any real gaps the questionnaire reveals so the answers stay accurate over time.
What does this cost for a typical manufacturer?
Our Fully Managed IT runs $125–$200 per user per month for office staff. Production-floor infrastructure (segmentation, OT monitoring, ruggedized device management) typically adds project work for the initial design and ongoing managed costs depending on scope. For a 50-person manufacturer with one plant, total monthly managed cost typically falls in the $7,000–$12,000 range.
Free Manufacturing IT Health Check
We'll review your current IT/OT separation, ERP security posture, and supply-chain readiness, then give you a prioritized 30-day action plan — no obligation.