Core Infrastructure
Servers, networks, site Wi-Fi and user devices kept patched, monitored and documented.
What leaving managed IT alone costs you
Without managed infrastructure, a buyer assumes Cyber Essentials controls exist on paper but not in practice, unreliable systems during contract delivery, no real continuity plan if systems fail, inconsistent patching and endpoint protection and support dependent on one person's availability.
None of that may be true of you. It does not matter. In a tender, the assumption is what gets scored.
The managed IT point most manufacturers miss
Auditors do not take the certificate's word for it. They ask to see the patch log, the backup test, the access list. If the systems on the ground do not match the claim on the certificate, the claim collapses.
This is not IT support. IT support is what you call when something breaks. Managed IT is what stops it breaking.
What managed IT support covers
Production Systems
HMIs, engineering workstations and shop-floor PCs managed to the same standard as the office.
Cloud & Backup
Microsoft 365, Azure and SharePoint structured properly, with backups encrypted and tested.
Support & Access Control
Helpdesk workflows, patch management and access control that stands up to an audit.
What managed IT looks like inside a manufacturer
- Servers patched on a schedule, with a record to prove it.
- Office and production networks segmented.
- Wi-Fi that works in the far corner of the warehouse, not just reception.
- Multi-factor authentication enforced across all accounts.
- Backups encrypted and tested for actual recoverability.
- Firewalls configured and reviewed, not installed and forgotten.
- Production PCs locked down.
- ERP and MRP databases maintained and backed up.
- Cloud storage structured and permissioned.
How managed IT affects your tender score
| Tender criterion | What this service contributes | Score effect |
|---|---|---|
| Operational Resilience | System uptime and reliability during contract delivery | Major |
| Cyber | Underpins Cyber Essentials control evidence | Major |
| Delivery | Reduces risk of service disruption during a live contract | Major |
| Compliance | Documented, managed systems support audit evidence | Moderate |
| Quality | Reliable systems support consistent process delivery | Moderate |