Machine Shops in the Defense Supply Chain:
CMMC Compliance Is No Longer Optional
You cut metal for the Department of Defense.
Your CNC machines run parts that end up in fighter jets, submarines, and missile systems.
The technical drawings on your shop floor network are Controlled Unclassified Information.
If you cannot prove you protect that data, you will lose your DoD contracts. Full stop.
Machine Shops Have a CUI Problem
They Don't Know About
Over 30,000 machine shops operate in the U.S. defense supply chain. Most are small businesses with 10 to 50 employees.
Every day, these shops receive technical drawings, CAD files, material specifications, tolerance data, and quality control records from prime contractors and the DoD. Under federal law, most of that information qualifies as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
But here is the problem. Most machine shops were built to cut metal, not to manage cybersecurity.
Technical drawings get transferred to CNC machines over unencrypted networks. Blueprints sit on shared drives with no access controls. Employees move files between the front office and the shop floor on USB drives that have never been inventoried.
DFARS clause 252.204-7021 is already appearing in new contracts. That clause requires CMMC certification at the specified level. No certification means no contract. Your prime will find another shop.
The good news: compliance is achievable for shops of any size. But you need to start now, because the remediation timeline for most machine shops is 6 to 18 months.
6-18 Months
The typical remediation timeline for machine shops. CNC network segmentation, access controls, and documentation take time to implement correctly.
CUI Everywhere
Technical drawings, blueprints, CAD files, material specs, and inspection reports. Your shop floor is full of CUI that requires protection under NIST 800-171.
30,000+ Shops
Tens of thousands of machine shops compete for defense work. Shops that certify first will win the contracts. The rest will be replaced.
CMMC Compliance Services
Built for Machine Shops
CMMC Ready Now, powered by Capital Cyber, understands the unique challenges of precision machining environments. We deliver compliance solutions that work on the shop floor, not just in the server room.
CUI Scoping for Manufacturing Environments
We trace CUI from the moment a technical drawing arrives to the CNC controller, inspection station, and shipping dock. Every touchpoint is mapped, every data flow documented.
Shop Floor Network Segmentation
Your CNC machines, CMMs, and office computers should not share the same flat network. We design and implement network segmentation that isolates CUI processing from general operations.
Secure File Transfer for CAD and Drawings
No more emailing DXF files or passing USB drives between the front office and the shop floor. We set up encrypted, auditable file transfer systems that meet NIST 800-171 requirements.
Access Control for Technical Data
Not every machinist needs access to every drawing. We implement role-based access controls so only authorized personnel can view, download, or transfer CUI.
Full NIST 800-171 Gap Assessment
We evaluate all 110 security controls against your current environment. You receive a detailed report showing exactly which controls are met, partially met, or missing entirely.
Policies, SSP, and POA&M Documentation
Most machine shops have zero cybersecurity documentation. We build your System Security Plan, Plan of Action and Milestones, incident response plan, and all supporting policies from the ground up.
We Serve Every Type of Machine Shop
Whether you run a five-axis mill or a Swiss lathe, if your work touches DoD contracts, CUI protection requirements apply to your operation. We have helped shops across every machining discipline get compliant.
CNC Milling
CNC Turning
Swiss Machining
Wire EDM
Grinding & Finishing
Quality Inspection
Assembly & Kitting
Prototype Development
Trusted by Machine Shops Across the Defense Supply Chain
Real results from real shops that machine parts for America's defense programs.
“We had CNC programs and customer drawings on a shared drive that anyone in the building could access. Capital Cyber helped us segment our network, lock down file access, and build an SSP from scratch. We passed our assessment on the first try.”
Shop Floor Manager
Precision Machining Firm, Northern VA
“Our AS9100 quality system was solid, but CMMC is a completely different beast. The team walked us through every control, translated the requirements into language our machinists could understand, and gave us a realistic path to certification.”
Quality Director
Aerospace Parts Manufacturer, Maryland
“I run a 20-person shop and had no idea our technical drawings qualified as CUI. Rick and his team showed us exactly what was at risk and built a compliance plan that fit our budget. We did not have to hire a full time IT person to make it work.”
Owner
Defense Subcontractor, Pennsylvania
How We Get Your Shop CMMC Ready
A clear, four-step process designed for busy shop owners who need results, not red tape.
Book a Call with Rick
A free, no-pressure consultation. We learn about your DoD contracts, your shop environment, and what CUI you handle. You get honest answers about what compliance will look like for your operation.
CUI Scoping and Gap Assessment
We walk your shop floor and your network. We identify every system that touches CUI, from the CAD workstation in engineering to the CNC controller on the mill. Then we assess all 110 NIST 800-171 controls against your current setup.
Remediation and Implementation
We close your gaps. Network segmentation between office and shop floor. Encrypted file transfers for drawings. Access controls on technical data. Documentation for every policy and procedure. All built to pass a C3PAO assessment.
Certification Readiness and Ongoing Support
You receive a complete compliance package: SSP, POA&M, policies, and evidence binders. We prepare you for your C3PAO assessment and provide ongoing monitoring to keep you compliant as requirements evolve.
Let's talk about what's really at stake.
Your shop has spent years building relationships with primes. You invested in machines, in tooling, in people.
You run lights-out operations. You hold tight tolerances. You deliver on time.
None of that matters if you cannot prove your cybersecurity meets the standard.
The DoD is not asking anymore. They are requiring.
CMMC is the new cost of doing business in defense manufacturing. Just like AS9100. Just like ITAR registration. Just like DFARS 7012.
The difference is that CMMC has teeth. Third-party assessors. Pass or fail. No self-attestation loopholes.
The machine shops that move now will lock in assessor slots before the rush.
They will keep their contracts.
They will be the shops that primes call first when new programs ramp up.
Your competitors are already starting. The only question is whether you will start before it's too late.
Get Your Free CMMC Compliance Consultation for Machine Shops
Fill out the form below and our team will contact you within 24 hours to discuss your shop's compliance requirements, contract obligations, and the fastest path to certification.
Prefer to talk to someone right away?
Book a Call with RickServing Machine Shops Nationwide
Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut, Texas, California, and every state with defense manufacturing. We work with machine shops of all sizes, from 10-person job shops to 200-employee production facilities. On site and remote support available.
Contact Us
Partnership
CMMC Ready Now is proudly powered by Capital Cyber. A cybersecurity firm specializing in CMMC compliance for defense manufacturers, machine shops, and precision machining operations.