In recent years our experience bridging the gap between IT and OT has been called upon often. As time goes on, rules change, standards change, and we’re all required to adapt. It’s often not simple answers, there is a lot of interpretation about how to achieve some of the loftier requirements. One of them just got a heck of a lot easier, CMMC 2.0 and your shop floor equipment.
With cybersecurity requirements evolving and manufacturers facing increasing pressure to protect sensitive data, achieving compliance with standards like CMMC 2.0 has never been more critical. For manufacturers working with the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain—or simply wanting to elevate their cybersecurity practices—OT-Max offers a practical, secure solution for the shop floor. By encrypting machine data and file transfers, OT-Max creates a connected, yet protected, environment that aligns with CMMC 2.0 requirements.
Why CMMC 2.0 Matters to Manufacturers
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 is the DoD’s framework for safeguarding controlled unclassified information (CUI) across its supply chain. If you’re working on contracts with the DoD, CMMC compliance isn’t optional—it’s essential. But even if you’re not directly involved in defense manufacturing, meeting these rigorous cybersecurity standards positions your shop floor as a secure and trusted operation.
Two of the key practices emphasized in CMMC 2.0 are:
- Access Control (AC): Limiting access to information systems to authorized users, processes, or devices to protect critical data.
- System and Communications Protection (SC): Ensuring secure transmission of data through encryption and safeguarding communication channels.
One of the biggest challenges manufacturers face is ensuring that data moving between CNC machines, servers, and networks is encrypted and protected. This is where OT-Max changes the game.
OT-Max: Enabling an Encrypted Shop Floor
OT-Max helps manufacturers meet CMMC 2.0 requirements by addressing critical shop floor vulnerabilities. Here’s how:
- Secure File Transfers: OT-Max converts outdated protocols like SMB1 and FTP into modern, encrypted alternatives such as SMB3 and SFTP. This ensures that files moving to and from CNC machines are fully protected during transfer, aligning with CMMC’s focus on secure data transmission.
- Machine Data Encryption: With OT-Max, machine data collection (MDC) is standardized and encrypted through OPC-UA. Whether you’re collecting data from FANUC, Siemens, Heidenhain, or other protocols, OT-Max ensures the data remains secure from machine to network.
- Network Isolation: OT-Max acts as a gateway, keeping CNC machines isolated from your broader company network while still allowing secure, controlled access. This minimizes attack surfaces and helps meet CMMC’s requirements for network security and segmentation.
Compliance Without Disrupting Operations
What makes OT-Max so valuable is that it doesn’t require a massive overhaul of your current systems. Whether you’re working with older machines that rely on legacy protocols or newer equipment with advanced data capabilities, OT-Max integrates seamlessly to encrypt communication and safeguard your shop floor. You get the tools to meet compliance requirements without disrupting productivity.
Beyond Compliance: A Smarter, Safer Shop Floor
While CMMC 2.0 compliance is a driving factor, OT-Max delivers benefits that extend beyond regulatory requirements. Secure file transfers and encrypted machine data mean fewer vulnerabilities, improved operational confidence, and a stronger foundation for future growth.
At Managed Solutions, we’ve long believed in helping manufacturers build secure and connected operations. Tools like OT-Max reflect that vision, combining security, flexibility, and ease of integration. If you haven’t already, check out our article on Introducing OT-Max: A Game-Changer for Secure CNC Machine Connectivity to see how it all works.
Ready to Secure Your Shop Floor?
If CMMC 2.0 is on your radar—or if you simply want to lock down your shop floor—OT-Max is the tool that makes it possible. Secure file transfers, encrypted machine data, and seamless integration give you everything you need to meet compliance requirements and enhance your operations.
Let’s talk about how OT-Max can help you create a smarter, safer, and compliant shop floor. Contact us today to get started.
