IT Challenges Facing Michigan's Manufacturers - And How to Overcome Them With BAE Networks

A Practical Guide to Navigating Cybersecurity, CMMC Compliance, and Modern IT Demands

Michigan’s manufacturing sector remains a backbone of the state’s economy, from automotive suppliers in Detroit suburbs to precision parts producers in the Upper Peninsula. As manufacturers adopt automation, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, cloud-based systems, and advanced data analytics, they significantly expand operational efficiency — but also their digital attack surface.

For manufacturing executives, the pressure is mounting: how to modernize operations, stay compliant with stringent standards (especially when supplying to government or defense), and defend against a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. This guide outlines the most common IT and cybersecurity challenges faced by Michigan manufacturers, and how partnering with a specialized provider like BAE Networks can deliver security, compliance, and peace of mind.

Manufacturers in Michigan face increasing cybersecurity & IT challenges.

Key IT & Cybersecurity Challenges in Michigan Manufacturing

1. Escalating Cybersecurity Risks

   - The manufacturing sector remains the #1 target of ransomware year after year.

   - A recent industry report found that 80% of manufacturing firms have "critical vulnerabilities", putting them at high risk of exploitation.

   - According to global cost estimates, manufacturing companies face an average of $1.9 million per day in losses when a ransomware attack forces downtime.

These threats include ransomware, phishing, credential theft, and attacks targeting operational technology (OT), any of which can grind production to a halt.

2. Compliance Burdens & Regulatory Mandates

   Manufacturers, especially those working with government or defense primes, frequently face compliance requirements under frameworks such as Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), NIST SP 800-171 / NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or industry-specific regulations.

Meeting these requirements demands more than basic IT housekeeping: it often requires policy creation, secure architecture design, regular audits, and continuous monitoring - capabilities many small- to mid-sized plants don't have in-house.

3. Legacy Systems + Modern Tech = Integration Headaches

   Many Michigan manufacturers operate a patchwork of older on-prem hardware, legacy control systems, and newer cloud or IoT solutions. Integrating these disparate systems in a way that preserves security, data integrity, and usability is often complex, expensive, and risky.

   
   

4. Limited Internal IT Resources

   Especially for smaller or mid-sized manufacturers, it's common to lack dedicated staff with deep cybersecurity expertise. When no one's available to handle patch management, firewall configuration, or incident response, vulnerabilities accumulate...and risk increases.

   
   

5. Data Management & Accessibility Challenges

   Modern manufacturing increasingly relies on data: from production metrics and quality control logs to supply chain information and IoT sensor data. Ensuring that data is stored securely, accessible to the right people, and recoverable in the event of a disaster or security incident is becoming a growing concern.

How BAE Networks Helps Michigan Manufacturers Solve These Problems

At BAE Networks, we understand the unique blend of IT, OT, regulatory, and business-continuity needs that modern manufacturers face. Our services are designed to align with Michigan's manufacturing realities and deliver turnkey, dependable solutions.

Turn-Key CMMC & Regulatory Compliance Support

For manufacturers working with the Defense Industrial Base or other government sectors:

• Gap Analysis: Identify security weaknesses and compliance deficits.

• Policy Development: Build cybersecurity policies aligned with CMMC/NIST/regulatory standards.

• Implementation: Deploy technical controls like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and network segmentation.

• Continuous Monitoring & Auditing: Maintain compliance over time, adapt as standards evolve, and stay ready for recertification.

This removes compliance burden from internal teams and reduces the risk of contract delays or rejection.

Managed & Co-Managed IT Services

For plants without dedicated IT teams, or with small teams already stretched thin, BAE provides:

• Fully Managed IT Services: Network monitoring, patch management, backups, incident response, and more.

• Co-Managed IT Services: Partner with existing in-house staff to extend expertise, add redundancy, and strengthen security posture.

No matter which managed IT service your organization implements, the escalation-free help desk is available 24/7/365. This ensures reliable, up-to-date infrastructure while freeing internal staff to focus on core manufacturing tasks.

Cybersecurity Solutions Designed for Manufacturing Environments

Manufacturing is not just about IT - it's also about operational technology, robotics, control systems, and physical infrastructure. BAE offers cybersecurity guardrails tailored to that complexity:

• Threat Detection & Response: Real-time monitoring to catch ransomware, unauthorized access, or OT-specific threats before they impact production.

• Network Security & Segmentation: Firewalls, intrusion detection, secure remote access to protect critical systems.

• Employee Security Training: Often, the weakest link is human error. Training helps reduce risks such as phishing and accidental breaches.

Given that many manufacturing breaches now involve ransomware and social engineering, training and preparedness are vital to your organization's security.

Data Management, Cloud Migration & Disaster Recovery

BAE helps manufacturers modernize data infrastructure in a secure, scalable way:

• Secure Cloud Migration: Move operational and production data to encrypted, role-based cloud storage.

• Scalable Data Storage: Handle high volumes of production logs, quality data, IoT sensor outputs, and more.

• Secure Access Controls: Role-based permissions, encryption in transit and at rest.

• Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity: Regular backups, rapid recovery plans, minimal downtime in case of incident or failure.

This ensures manufacturers can leverage data-driven insights and collaboration without sacrificing security or risking data loss.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Manufacturing IT in Michigan

As manufacturing evolves, technology continues to reshape the industry. Emerging trends such as AI-driven analytics, predictive maintenance, robotics, and increased IIoT adoption mean that manufacturers who stay ahead of the curve - in both operations and security - will thrive.

To prepare:

• Adopt Proactive IT Planning: Don't wait until a breach or compliance audit forces upgrades. Build a roadmap for modernization.

• Partner with Experts: Leverage providers like BAE Networks to supplement internal resources and access specialized cybersecurity, compliance, and cloud expertise.

• Prioritize Compliance: Stay on top of evolving standards and audit requirements to remain contract-ready and avoid penalties.

• Invest in Training & Awareness: Humans remain among the top vulnerabilities, so regular training reduces risk significantly.

By building a strong IT foundation, manufacturers in Michigan can safeguard operations, maintain compliance, and stay competitive, even as technology and regulatory demands accelerate.