IT Infrastructure for ManufacturingERP. OT/IT Segmentation. Plant Floor IT.
Production Never Stops for IT.

Gradius manufacturing IT infrastructure services include: ERP server infrastructure — design, deployment, and management of the server and network infrastructure that SAP, Epicor, Infor, SYSPRO, and other manufacturing ERP systems require; OT/IT network segmentation — creating and maintaining the network boundary between plant floor OT systems and business IT networks; industrial network infrastructure — managed switching, wireless, and connectivity for production floor environments; manufacturing ransomware defense — EDR on office and plant floor workstations, OT/IT segmentation limiting lateral movement, immutable backup for ERP and production data; production data backup and disaster recovery — ERP database backup, quality and batch record backup, CAD/CAM data protection; and plant floor IT support — under-15-minute response for production-affecting issues, CAD/CAM workstation support, multi-shift coverage. Flat-rate per user, all manufacturing types.

OT/IT convergence refers to the increasing integration between operational technology (the systems that run production — SCADA supervisory control systems, PLCs that control equipment, HMIs that operators use to monitor production) and information technology (the business networks, ERP systems, and office computers). Historically, OT systems were isolated on separate networks with no connectivity to business IT — which provided security through isolation. Increasingly, manufacturers connect OT and IT for legitimate operational reasons: real-time production data flowing to ERP, remote monitoring of equipment, predictive maintenance systems. This connectivity eliminates the isolation that previously protected OT systems. A ransomware attack that enters through a phishing email on a business workstation can now traverse to the plant floor through the connected network, reaching PLC programming workstations, locking SCADA visibility, and stopping production. OT/IT network segmentation recreates the protective boundary in a way that still allows the necessary data flows while preventing ransomware lateral movement.

Ransomware in a manufacturing environment can affect multiple layers simultaneously. At the business IT level: ERP access is encrypted, production scheduling is locked, procurement and financial systems go offline. At the plant floor level if OT/IT segmentation is absent: PLC programming workstations that maintain equipment configuration lose access, SCADA systems lose visibility into production, and CNC workstations running production programs may be locked. The combination of losing ERP visibility and losing plant floor control creates maximum operational disruption — production stops across the facility, and recovery requires restoring both business IT and plant floor systems before production can resume. CISA has documented multiple manufacturing ransomware incidents where recovery took weeks due to the complexity of restoring OT systems alongside business IT. Immutable backup that covers both the ERP database and production system configurations reduces recovery time significantly.

Yes — and this integration is what distinguishes manufacturing IT expertise from general business IT. ERP systems and plant floor systems exist in the same network environment and increasingly exchange data, so managing them requires understanding both. For ERP: Gradius manages the server infrastructure, database backup, user access, and performance monitoring that SAP, Epicor, Infor, and SYSPRO require. For plant floor systems: Gradius manages the network infrastructure that OT systems connect to, implements OT/IT segmentation, and provides IT support for the workstations (CNC controllers, SCADA workstations, HMI stations) that sit at the boundary between IT and OT. For the integration between them: Gradius manages the network architecture that allows ERP and production systems to exchange data while keeping the protective segmentation boundary between business IT and OT in place.

Monitoring and helpdesk support can begin within 1–2 weeks, with monitoring agents deployed across business IT without disrupting production. OT/IT segmentation implementation is scheduled around production windows — changes to plant floor network infrastructure are planned and executed during planned downtime or shift changes rather than during active production. ERP infrastructure assessment and optimization is completed within 30–60 days. For manufacturers transitioning from a previous IT provider, Gradius coordinates the handoff to maintain continuous coverage. The transition timeline is built around the production schedule — IT changes that could affect production are sequenced and approved before they happen.

No long-term lock-ins. We offer month-to-month and annual agreements. Manufacturers stay with Gradius because ERP performance is maintained, OT/IT segmentation is in place, production downtime from IT causes is eliminated, ransomware defenses are active, and the IT program scales as production capacity grows. We earn the renewal every month through performance.