Day 8 – 12 Days of Unscripted with SST

IT & SMBs Manufacturing

For Day 8, we revisit Episode Eight of Unscripted with SST, where Beau Elston joined the show to discuss the state of IT in small and midsize manufacturing environments. Manufacturing is an industry where precision matters, uptime drives revenue, and even a few hours of disruption can ripple through production, logistics, and customer commitments. In the episode, we examined why IT has become inseparable from the shop floor and why manufacturers can no longer depend on outdated systems or reactive approaches.

Beau highlighted the most common gaps he sees with manufacturing clients, such as aging infrastructure, poor network segmentation, weak backup strategies, and limited or no centralized documentation. Many manufacturers still lack a formal disaster recovery plan or incident response strategy, making them vulnerable to disruptions that can stop production. Cybersecurity threats are also increasing. Ransomware, phishing in procurement workflows, and flat networks that let attackers move freely inside the environment continue to target manufacturers at a rising rate.

The episode also discussed how manufacturers can balance modern IT needs with legacy machinery. Segmentation, access control, monitoring, and long-term roadmaps help safeguard older systems while preparing the organization for future upgrades. We also explored the growing importance of compliance, especially for companies operating within regulated supply chains. Mapping environments to frameworks like NIST, CMMC, or ISO, aligning policies with audit-friendly practices, and maintaining regular documentation are becoming essential business requirements.

Real examples from the field reinforced the point. One precision manufacturer achieved 99.9 percent uptime and eliminated security incidents after SST helped modernize their environment and implement proper controls. Conversely, a small machine shop running unsupported systems suffered a costly ransomware attack, losing days of production and having to pay ransom just to regain access to their own equipment. The lesson from Episode Eight was clear: manufacturing leaders cannot afford to treat IT as an afterthought. With the right strategy, modernized infrastructure, and disciplined security, IT becomes a competitive advantage rather than a point of failure.