IT providers for manufacturing

There are 341 IT providers serving Manufacturing clients listed in the Assurix directory, including 10 with verified Assurix trustmarks.

Last updated: 14 November 2026

If you make things, your technology comes in two halves. Office IT runs orders, payroll and email. Operational technology, or OT, runs the machines on the factory floor. They have different lifecycles and different tolerance for being patched or taken offline.

That matters when you're choosing an IT provider. A line that stops has a cost for every hour it's down. Machinery bought to last a decade often runs older operating systems long after an office would have replaced them, so a provider needs to keep both worlds safe without stopping production.

This page lists providers working with manufacturers across the UK. Providers holding the Assurix Trusted MSP badge are shown first, and any working toward it appear as On the Journey. Below you'll find what to look for and what to ask before you pick one.

What to look for in a provider

A good provider for a manufacturer understands the factory floor as well as the front office.

Both sides of the plant
Ask whether they've supported operational technology as well as office computers. The two need different handling, and someone who only knows office IT can cause a production stop by patching the wrong thing.
Older systems kept safe
Production kit often runs for years on operating systems that are no longer updated. A capable provider can isolate and protect those machines rather than insisting you replace equipment that still works.
Response that matches a running line
Downtime on a line costs money by the hour. Check what response times they commit to and whether cover extends across your actual shift pattern.
Ready for supplier questionnaires
Larger customers and OEMs often send security questionnaires before placing work, and some ask about ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials. A provider who keeps good records makes those forms far quicker to complete.
Aware you sit in a supply chain
You're part of other companies' supply chains, so a weakness at your end can affect a customer. Look for a provider who treats that responsibility seriously rather than as an afterthought.

Questions worth asking

A few direct questions will tell you quickly whether a provider really knows manufacturing.

  1. Have you supported operational technology on a factory floor before? OT behaves differently from office IT, and inexperience there can stop a line.
  2. How would you protect machines running older operating systems that we can't replace yet? It shows whether they can secure equipment without forcing costly upgrades.
  3. What response time do you commit to if production goes down, and does it cover our shifts? Downtime has an hourly cost, so the answer needs to match how you actually run.
  4. Can you help us answer security questionnaires from our larger customers? These forms decide whether some contracts get placed, and a prepared provider saves you days.
  5. How do you separate office IT from the factory network? Keeping the two apart limits how far a problem can spread.
  6. Do you hold any certifications such as Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001? Buyers increasingly ask about these, and knowing where your provider stands helps you answer.

IT providers serving Manufacturing

The security reality in manufacturing

Manufacturing carries a risk profile most sectors don't. You run operational technology on the factory floor alongside the office IT that handles the business side. The two have different lifecycles and a different tolerance for patching and downtime, so they can't be managed the same way.

Production machinery is often bought to last many years. That means older operating systems stay in service far longer than they would in an office, and they need protecting rather than simply replacing. When a line stops, there's a direct cost for every hour of lost output, so any security work has to respect production schedules.

There's a commercial side too. Manufacturers sit inside other companies' supply chains, and larger customers and OEMs commonly send security questionnaires to their suppliers. Some ask for certifications such as ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials before placing work. Being able to answer those questions cleanly can be the difference between winning a contract and losing it.

What the Assurix Trustmark means here

Assurix is an independent trustmark for UK IT providers, built on the idea of proof, not promises. A provider showing the Trusted MSP badge has passed all 59 controls, aligned to the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework, and is monitored continuously rather than checked once a year. For a manufacturer weighing up who to trust with both the office and the factory floor, that ongoing evidence is a useful signal alongside your own questions.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between IT and OT in a factory?

IT is the technology that runs the business side: email, orders, payroll and file storage. OT, or operational technology, is the systems that control physical machinery on the factory floor. The two have different lifecycles. Office computers get replaced every few years, while production machinery can run for a decade or more on the same software. They also tolerate downtime differently, so a provider needs to understand both rather than treating the whole estate as ordinary office IT.

Why do older operating systems stay in use in manufacturing?

Production machinery is expensive and built to last many years. The software that controls it is often tied to that specific equipment, so it stays in service long after an office would have moved on. Replacing the machine just to update the software usually isn't practical. A capable provider protects these older systems by isolating them from the wider network and watching them closely, keeping them running safely without forcing you into an early and costly replacement.

Our customers keep sending us security questionnaires. Can an IT provider help?

Yes. Larger customers and OEMs commonly send security questionnaires to their suppliers, and some ask about certifications such as ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials before placing work. A provider who keeps clear records of how your systems are protected can help you complete these forms accurately and quickly. That matters commercially, because for some contracts the questionnaire is a gate you have to pass before any work is placed. Ask a prospective provider whether they've supported customers through this before.

How much does downtime on a production line actually cost?

That depends on your operation, but downtime on a line has a direct cost for every hour it's stopped, covering lost output, idle staff and missed deadlines. Because of that, response times matter more in manufacturing than in a typical office. When you talk to a provider, ask what they commit to if production goes down, and check that their cover extends across the hours and shifts you actually run rather than just standard office time.

What does 'On the Journey' mean next to a provider's name?

It means the provider is working towards the Assurix Trusted MSP badge but hasn't passed yet. On the Journey is time-limited to six months, and it isn't a pass. It shows a provider has chosen to start the process. Providers with no status yet are simply not yet Assurix-verified, which says nothing bad about them: many are excellent and just haven't been through it.

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