A practical guide for manufacturers who want to lead with confidence, win more contracts, and avoid the common pitfalls of CMMC readiness.
CMMC compliance can be an opportunity for growth and competitive advantage.
For small and midsize manufacturers, especially those in the defense supply chain, CMMC 2.0 can feel like yet another daunting mandate. But approached with clarity, the right tools, and the right partners, it becomes a competitive advantage that signals maturity, builds trust, and opens new doors.
We work with manufacturing leaders every day who are trying to do the right thing: protect their businesses, stay compliant, and position themselves for growth. But too often, we see smart leaders fall into the same traps. Not because they lack expertise, but because the CMMC path is complex, unclear, and often framed in the language of fear.
We’re here to flip that script.
Let’s explore the most common misconceptions and missed steps in the CMMC journey and how you, the business leader, can take control of it.
1. Thinking “We’re Too Small to Be a Target”
The Reality: If you’re handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), you’re in the scope, whether you have 20 employees or 200. And attackers know that SMBs are often the easiest way into larger supply chains.
The Opportunity: By investing in your security maturity now, you not only meet today’s requirements but also demonstrate to primes and OEMs that you’re a reliable partner. That trust translates directly into more opportunities, faster onboarding, and stronger client retention.
2. Trying to Do It All Internally
The Reality: Most manufacturers operate with lean teams, limited IT bandwidth, and no in-house security or compliance experts. Expecting your internal staff or your “IT person” to own CMMC readiness while also keeping the shop floor running is unrealistic and often sets the stage for burnout or missed gaps.
The Opportunity: Partnering with a provider who understands manufacturing and specializes in compliance gives you the lift you need to stay competitive and secure. Mainstay offers proactive roadmaps, managed security, and tailored—not templated—guidance so your team can stay focused on production, not paperwork. You’ll work with a team of CMMC-AB registered practitioners who stay current on the latest developments and bring deep experience navigating the nuances of CMMC controls across a wide variety of clients.
3. Treating CMMC as a One-Time Project
The Reality: Compliance is a process to sustain, not a box to check. We’ve seen organizations scramble to meet minimum requirements, only to backslide months later because no one “owns” the program.
The Opportunity : With Mainstay’s support, you can build a repeatable, auditable system that evolves alongside your business—laying the foundation for sustainable compliance and long-term growth. We help you develop policies that are regularly reviewed, implement practices that align with how your team actually works, and create a roadmap that supports your future goals. As part of the CMMC framework, you’ll also need to attest annually to maintaining compliance and undergo a formal reassessment every three years—making it even more critical to have the right partner by your side.
4. Underestimating the Shop Floor
The Reality: OT systems (like CNCs, PLCs, and machine monitors) often go unprotected. Many providers don’t know how to segment or secure them, leaving critical parts of the business exposed.
The Opportunity: Mainstay bridges the gap between IT and OT. We help you secure your entire environment, from rugged terminals to cloud-based ERP, without disrupting uptime. Because we know: if the machines stop, the business will stop.
5. Picking the Wrong Partner
The Reality: Generic MSPs or one-size-fits-all vendors can leave manufacturers stuck with poor-fit tools, slow support, and minimal understanding of compliance frameworks.
The Opportunity: At Mainstay, we don’t just “do IT.” We partner with New England manufacturers to deliver security, uptime, and clarity. We translate the complex into the actionable and we stay by your side from readiness to assessment (and beyond).
The Bottom Line
As the leader steering your organization through these challenges, your CMMC journey should position you for success. With the right plan and the right support, CMMC compliance becomes less of a barrier and more of a blueprint for growth, resilience, and long-term success.
Let’s build a foundation that works for your business, your team, and your future contracts.