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CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY

Burke Aerospace Clears the Runway for CMMC Readiness and Manufacturing Uptime

An unresponsive IT team can cause the production line to grind to a stop.
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industry-manufacturing
Disruptions

The entire IT transition happened without a single disruption to the manufacturing floor.

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% Compliant

Burke Aerospace achieved full alignment with CMMC requirements, ensuring it remains eligible for critical DoD contracts

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% Uptime

Manufacturing operations stay consistent, and customers stay confident.

Client Perspective

From Legacy Limitations to Secure Manufacturing Infrastructure

Burke Aerospace is a premier manufacturer serving the aerospace and industrial gas turbine industries. In a fast-moving environment where precision, uptime, and reliability are non-negotiables, the company needs technology that runs flawlessly.

As customer compliance requirements became more demanding, Burke knew its IT environment needed to evolve. The business needed stronger infrastructure, better responsiveness, and a clear plan for staying secure, compliant, and competitive.

I would recommend CompassMSP to any company. You don't need to shop around. They are the best of the best. The overall professionalism and responsiveness of the CompassMSP team made us feel important.

burke-aerospace-logo-color Brittney Ishwada Burke Aerospace President

THE PROBLEM

Outdated IT Puts Compliance and Uptime on the Line

Before partnering with CompassMSP, Burke Aerospace was stuck with an unresponsive IT provider. When urgent IT issues popped up, nobody called back. This silence was more than just frustrating; it forced production lines to stop completely, a major liability in the manufacturing industry.

Missed Deadlines and an IT Provider That Leaves You on Seen

To make matters worse, Burke Aeropspace’s aging infrastructure disrupted operations, triggering a domino effect of missed deadlines, inconsistent production, and unmet customer commitments. Besides being unresponsive, their IT provider lacked the expertise to guide them through an infrastructure upgrade. They needed IT support for manufacturers, guiding them through what investments to make, what to prioritize, and how to build a technology foundation that would support compliance and growth.

Under Pressure of CMMC and Industry 4.0 Mandates

At the same time, the organization’s top customers started rolling out strict new vendor requirements. The company urgently needed guidance on CMMC readiness and adapting to Industry 4.0 model-based definitions.

When Manufacturing Cybersecurity Falls Short

Cybersecurity added even more urgency. Like many small and mid-sized manufacturers, Burke knew cyber threats cause significant financial damage, potentially even taking the business down completely. The company needed a manufacturing IT partner that could help reduce risk while aligning IT investments with plant operations.

THE SOLUTION

IT Investments That Keep Production Running

Within the first week, Burke Aerospace felt a shift. The transition to the new infrastructure went smoothly and delivered immediate improvements, including:

  • Zero Production Downtime: The entire IT transition happened without a single disruption to the manufacturing floor.
  • Audit-Ready Compliance: Burke Aerospace achieved full alignment with CMMC requirements and Industry 4.0 standards, ensuring it remains eligible for critical Department of Defense contracts.
  • 100% Security Confidence: Burke Aerospace operates with greater peace of mind knowing CompassMSP actively monitors the forefront of the threat landscape, lowering the risk of downtime, fines, and reputational damage.
  • Ongoing Support: The high-precision manufacturer no longer had to manage critical IT, security, and compliance concerns alone.
  • Business Alignment: By establishing a partnership with a trusted expert, teams can stay ahead of issues, make smarter investments, and keep production moving while supporting long-term growth.

We have weekly meetings with CompassMSP, and it's as if they're in our facility even though they're virtually with us. I feel as if they're a partner with our company.

burke-aerospace-logo-color Brittney Ishwada Burke Aerospace President

THE RESULTS

IT Investments That Keep Production Running

Within the first week, Burke Aerospace felt a shift. The transition to the new infrastructure went smoothly and delivered immediate improvements, including:

  • Zero Production Downtime: The entire IT transition happened without a single disruption to the manufacturing floor.
  • Audit-Ready Compliance: Burke Aerospace achieved full alignment with CMMC requirements and Industry 4.0 standards, ensuring it remains eligible for critical Department of Defense contracts.
  • 100% Security Confidence: Burke Aerospace operates with greater peace of mind knowing CompassMSP actively monitors the forefront of the threat landscape, lowering the risk of downtime, fines, and reputational damage.
  • Ongoing Support: The high-precision manufacturer no longer had to manage critical IT, security, and compliance concerns alone.
  • Business Alignment: By establishing a partnership with a trusted expert, teams can stay ahead of issues, make smarter investments, and keep production moving while supporting long-term growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Managed IT, CMMC and Manufacturing

What is CMMC and why does it matter for manufacturers?

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a unified security standard for Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. It protects sensitive unclassified information within the defense industrial base. Manufacturers must meet these standards to remain eligible for federal contracts. Failing to comply can lead to lost revenue and legal penalties.

How does managed IT prevent production downtime during a transition?

Expert providers plan infrastructure changes to avoid disruptions on the manufacturing floor. They often perform migrations in phases or during off-hours. This ensures that high-precision machinery and digital systems stay online while security updates take effect.

Can a manufacturer achieve CMMC compliance alone?

Compliance requires deep technical knowledge and constant monitoring. Many manufacturers find it difficult to manage these complex requirements while focusing on production. Partnering with RPO or CMMC expert specialist provides the necessary tools and documentation to stay audit-ready at all times.

What are the risks of ignoring CMMC requirements?

Non-compliance creates significant business risks, including:

  • Loss of eligibility for critical DoD contracts.
  • Increased vulnerability to cyber threats and ransomware.
  • Hefty fines and damage to company reputation.
  • Operational delays due to security gaps.
How does Industry 4.0 align with security standards?

Industry 4.0 integrates smart technology and data into manufacturing. While this boosts efficiency, it also expands the attack surface for hackers. A managed security approach ensures that your connected devices meet modern compliance standards without slowing down your growth.

 
What does "audit-ready" compliance mean?

Being audit-ready means your IT environment consistently meets all required security controls. You have the documentation, logs, and processes in place to prove your security posture to an auditor at any moment. This proactive stance removes the stress of last-minute preparations.

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THERE IS NO TIME FOR DISRUPTIONS

It's Time For a Security-First IT Partner

Most organizations already have security tools. What they lack is a dependable partner who validates alerts, filters false positives, and tells IT exactly what to do next. Core Defense fills that gap by combining continuous monitoring with real analysts who take ownership of every investigation.

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