Cybersecurity in Manufacturing: How Ripley Machine is Protecting Your Data — and Ours

May 19

At Ripley Machine & Tool Company, our mission is precision — in the parts we machine and in the way we run our business. For decades, we’ve delivered centerless grinding,Internal grinding CNC turning, and Swiss machining services with unmatched quality and reliability. But as the world changes, so does our responsibility.

Today, cybersecurity is just as critical as cutting tolerance.

Whether we’re working with aerospace suppliers, defense contractors, fluid control companies, or machine builders, we understand that data security is now a core part of the value we deliver.

Why Cybersecurity Matters for a Precision CNC Shop

Manufacturing companies — especially those supporting defense, transportation, and infrastructure — are under increasing pressure to safeguard intellectual property, controlled information, and sensitive customer data. Whether it’s Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or proprietary specs, the expectation is clear:

If you handle sensitive data, you must protect it.

Cyberattacks on manufacturers have spiked in recent years, and regulators are responding. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, establishes a tiered framework to ensure defense contractors and suppliers are implementing proper cybersecurity controls.

Our Journey: CMMC Level 2 Readiness and Beyond

In 2022, we partnered with DataSure24 to perform a full CMMC Level 2 Readiness Assessment. The assessment benchmarked our cybersecurity practices against 110 controls — based on NIST 800-171 — to evaluate where we stood.

The Results:

34 controls were fully met
71 were partially met or missing
5 were not applicable

Rather than treat this as a one-time report, we’ve used it as a blueprint for action. We're working through the findings in a practical, prioritized way — not just to meet future certification requirements, but to better serve every single customer today.

What We've Done to Strengthen Cybersecurity

We’ve taken a proactive and structured approach, focusing on education, access control, system security, and partnerships. Here are some of the key steps:

Cybersecurity Awareness for Every Employee

Once a month, we dedicate a full week of Daily Drumbeat meetings to cybersecurity education. These conversations are built around:

Real-world cyber risks
What phishing looks like
What to do (and not do) if you spot something suspicious

We’ve also partnered with KnowBe4, an industry leader in phishing simulation and security awareness training, to give our team hands-on experience recognizing threats.

Stronger Access Controls and Authentication

All users now operate under role-based access — no more unnecessary administrator access.
We’ve implemented Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on critical systems.
Our IT provider (Szymanski Consulting) is managing infrastructure upgrades and endpoint protections.

Logging, Monitoring, and Planning Ahead

We’ve developed a formal Incident Response Plan using NIST guidelines.
We’re working toward implementing SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools for real-time threat detection.
System logging and audit policies are being strengthened with help from our IT firm.

💻 ProShop ERP = Secure, Paperless Manufacturing

Our cloud-based ERP system (ProShop ERP) plays a critical role in cybersecurity:

It removes the need for printed travelers or loose files
User permissions are managed tightly
Traceability is fully digital and backed up

Our Guiding Philosophy: Secure All Customer Data

Some customers — particularly in defense or aerospace — may require strict data controls under CMMC or DFARS. But at Ripley Machine, we believe:

Every customer’s data is valuable and deserves protection.

Whether you're sending us complex part drawings or custom specifications, we treat your information as proprietary and confidential — because it is.

Lessons Learned on the Journey

Implementing cybersecurity isn't easy — and it’s definitely not something to tackle alone. One thing we learned the hard way?

“Don’t try to do it alone — it’s too risky. When we first got our CMMC readiness report, the list of findings felt overwhelming. But we’ve chipped away at it, one item at a time, over the past few years. Tackling small wins consistently made the goal feel achievable. And with every step we’ve taken — whether it was adding MFA, improving passwords, or limiting admin access — we’ve made ourselves a little more protected from the next potential threat.”

We initially invested in new computers that didn’t have the horsepower we really needed on the shop floor. That misstep taught us the importance of planning not just for security — but for performance too.

Thankfully, our IT partner has done a phenomenal job working with us, helping manage updates, infrastructure changes, and ongoing improvements so we can stay focused on what we do best: making parts.

Looking Ahead: Prepared for Certification, Ready for Anything

While we’re not pursuing formal CMMC Level 2 certification right now, our goal is to operate in a state of readiness. If the right contract comes along, we’ll be able to move forward quickly. In the meantime, the improvements we’re making benefit all of our operations — and all of our customers.

Cybersecurity isn’t a checklist — it’s a commitment.

And at Ripley Machine, we’re committed to being a secure, modern, and reliable link in your supply chain.

Choose a Shop That Takes Security as Seriously as You Do

If your suppliers aren’t actively addressing cybersecurity, you’re carrying more risk than you may realize. Too many machine shops are still doing nothing — no password policies, no employee training, no secure systems — and yet they’re handling your proprietary prints and sensitive project data every day.

At Ripley Machine, we’re not waiting for a crisis or a contract to act. We’ve invested years into hardening our systems, training our team, and building a secure digital infrastructure. That means:

Your files are safe
Your reputation is protected
You’re working with a supplier that’s prepared for DFARS, NIST, and CMMC requirements

We believe cybersecurity is just as important as precision and delivery — and it should be non-negotiable when choosing who to trust with your parts.

If your current vendors aren't thinking about this, maybe it's time you did.

Email us at sales@ripley-machine.com for a quote on your next project — or to learn more about how Ripley Machine can bring both precision and protection to your supply chain.