Managed IT For Manufacturers And Distributors
Concierge-level managed IT and operations-grade security so your business can keep its customers, supply chain, and IP secure while orders ship and lines run. ERP, EDI, multi-warehouse networking, mobile workforce, AI policy, and cyber insurance handled.
Plant Floor Up, Office Floor Down
Manufacturing and distribution operate on different rhythms than office work. Multi-shift, multi-site, multi-warehouse. ERP, EDI, WMS, and shop-floor systems don’t tolerate downtime the way an email outage might.
On top of operations: cyber insurance carriers now ask manufacturers about OT/IT separation, ransomware preparedness, and supply-chain risk. SOX-relevant controls apply to the publicly-traded customers many manufacturers serve.
The right MSP for a manufacturer doesn’t just “do IT.” It runs the network and infrastructure that keeps shifts running, the security stack that keeps insurance underwriters comfortable, and the documentation that keeps audits clean.
What’s On Your Mind
ERP slowed down on second shift again. Production reporting is two days behind.
EDI to a key customer dropped overnight and the receiving team caught it Wednesday morning.
A warehouse opened in another state and the network design is a chain of consumer routers.
OT/IT separation is what the cyber carrier is asking about and you’re not sure how to answer.
Ransomware drills haven’t happened in two years and the CEO is reading headlines about supply-chain attacks.
The CFO needs SOX-relevant access controls evidence for the auditor and IT is supposed to provide it.
How Hi-Tek Runs Manufacturing & Distribution IT
Helpdesk That Knows Operations
A named pod of senior helpdesk supports operators, dispatchers, customer service, sales, finance, and admin. We know how operations actually run: shift schedules, EDI cutoffs, ERP-dependent workflows, multi-site coordination across warehouses or production facilities. Executive support tier for plant managers and operations leaders.
Your Environment, End To End
Servers (on-prem or Azure), endpoints across office and floor, multi-site networking for production and warehouse environments, secure WiFi for staff and guest, Microsoft 365 tenant, identity, backup. Hardware lifecycle and refresh planning at the platform level.
Security Built Around Operations And IP
EDR, 24/7 monitoring, MFA, conditional access, PAM, email security, DNS filtering. Designed around the threats that actually hit manufacturers: ransomware on production-dependent systems, customer-data exfiltration, IP and trade-secret theft, BEC against AP and procurement, supply-chain phishing, OT/IT exposure.
The Platforms Your Business Runs On
ERP (Prophet 21, NetSuite, SAP Business One, Sage 100/300, Plex, Microsoft Dynamics), EDI gateways, WMS, CRM, e-commerce integration, customer portals, quality and document management. Microsoft 365 integration, identity, infrastructure, and custom workflow tie-ins. Built and maintained in-house.
AI Your Business Can Use Without Exposing IP
Written AI policy aligned to customer-data protection expectations, your cyber insurance carrier, and the IP your business has built over decades. Microsoft 365 Copilot governance, the Hi-Tek Managed Secure AI Platform with IP and customer-data controls, and surrounding infrastructure for third-party AI tools.
Lines run and orders ship. ERP, EDI, and multi-site connectivity stay up. When something breaks, recovery is documented and tested.
Customer-driven security diligence handled. Your largest customers run supply-chain security diligence; we answer with documented evidence on demand.
Cyber insurance renewal handled. Carrier questionnaire and documentation completed before the deadline.
Acquisitions integrated without disrupting operations. Custom systems your business depends on keep running through corporate change.
The Detail Behind Each Capability
Helpdesk And Operations Support Model
A named pod of senior helpdesk owns your operation. Dedicated TAM coordinates work. vCIO sits with operations and finance leadership for quarterly reviews. Standard SLAs: sub-30-minute first response on critical tickets. After-hours and shift coverage where production schedules require.
The Environment We Run
Servers (on-prem, hybrid, or Azure), endpoints across office and floor, multi-site networking for production and warehouse, secure WiFi, Microsoft 365 tenant, identity (Microsoft Entra ID), backup.
Layered Security Stack
EDR on every endpoint. 24/7 SOC. Email security with anti-impersonation, transport rules, attachment sandboxing. DNS filtering. MFA. Conditional access. PAM for privileged accounts. Penetration testing annually. Tabletop exercises against ransomware and BEC.
ERP Platform Support
Prophet 21, NetSuite, SAP Business One, Sage 100/300, Plex, Microsoft Dynamics. We handle the surrounding environment: identity, access controls, integration with Microsoft 365, audit logging, EDI gateway management, and the workstation fleet.
EDI Gateways And Integrations
EDI cutoffs, customer-specific EDI requirements, gateway management, monitoring, error queues, and the integration to ERP. Disruption to EDI directly disrupts orders and shipments.
OT/IT Separation Where Applicable
For environments with operational technology (production lines, controllers, MES), we design proper network and identity separation between OT and corporate IT, and apply the relevant controls without disrupting production.
Customer Data And IP Confidentiality
Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels and DLP rules calibrated to customer data and IP. Conditional access tied to data sensitivity. Audit logging. Identity governance with PAM. Departing-employee access governance.
Risks Specific To Manufacturing And Distribution
Ransomware on production-dependent systems (highest impact). Customer-data exfiltration. IP and trade-secret theft. BEC against AP and procurement. Wire fraud. Supply-chain phishing. OT/IT exposure.
Backup And DR For ERP-Dependent Operations
Image-based backup with off-site replication. Immutable storage layers that survive ransomware. Microsoft 365 backup separate from M365’s native retention. Documented RTO and RPO targets per system, with ERP at the highest tier.
Cyber Insurance And Customer-Driven Diligence
Cyber insurance carrier questionnaires plus customer-driven security questionnaires. Documented evidence. Coordination with brokers and customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an MSP do for a manufacturer or distributor?
A capable MSP handles 24/7 IT support with operations-grade uptime, ERP and EDI environment support, multi-site networking, Microsoft 365 administration with customer-data controls, cybersecurity aligned to operational and IP risks, AI policy and governance, and the cyber insurance plus customer-driven security diligence documentation.
Do you work with our ERP (P21, NetSuite, SAP, Sage)?
Yes. We support the major manufacturing and distribution ERPs (Prophet 21, NetSuite, SAP Business One, Sage 100/300, Plex, Microsoft Dynamics). What we manage is the surrounding environment: identity, access controls, Microsoft 365 integration, audit logging, EDI gateway, and the workstation fleet.
How does Hi-Tek handle EDI?
We manage the EDI gateway, monitor cutoffs, handle error queues, and integrate EDI to ERP. We coordinate with customers on customer-specific EDI requirements and with the EDI vendor where applicable.
What about OT/IT separation?
For environments with operational technology (production lines, MES, industrial controllers), we design proper network and identity separation between OT and corporate IT, and apply the relevant controls without disrupting production.
How do you handle wire fraud and AP/procurement BEC risk?
BEC against AP and procurement is a top-3 threat for distributors and manufacturers. Controls: anti-impersonation email rules, conditional access, MFA on banking and ERP platforms, transport rules flagging external wire instruction emails, training, tabletop exercises, and procedural controls.
Do you support multi-site and multi-warehouse operations?
Yes. Multi-site is one of our most common client profiles. Each production facility, warehouse, and regional office joins the same security, identity, network, and operational standard.
What about customer-driven supply-chain security questionnaires?
Your largest customers run supply-chain security diligence and send questionnaires. We answer their questionnaires with documented evidence on demand, coordinated with the customer’s procurement or security team.
Is Microsoft 365 Copilot safe for our work?
Microsoft 365 Copilot in an enterprise tenant configured with sensitivity labels, DLP rules, conditional access, and audit logging can be deployed safely. Configuration matters significantly, especially around customer data and IP.
Do you serve healthcare manufacturers?
Yes. Healthcare manufacturers and medical device companies with FDA-relevant controls and customer quality program requirements are recurring client profiles.
What’s the onboarding process?
Most onboardings complete in 30 to 60 days with no operational disruption. ERP and EDI handoff, multi-site network handoff, OT/IT separation review where applicable, and customer-driven security questionnaire backlog each get specific attention.
Ready When You Are.
A 30-minute conversation plus a structured review of your operation’s IT environment, ERP and EDI posture, and any pressing customer-driven security or AI questions.
Founder-led since 1982. Headquartered in Syosset, NY.