Drawings and technical data on shared drives
When controlled drawings live on a file server accessible across the facility, the scope question is: who can reach that server, from what systems, and is separation practical?
Author: Velocity CMMC Team
Reviewer: Velocity CMMC Review Team
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026
Official sources reviewed
Contract language, current regulations, and official CMMC program guidance control. Last reviewed July 21, 2026 for current CMMC program sources.
- DoD CMMC FAQ
- CMMC Level 2 Scoping Guidance via DoD Resources
- 32 CFR Part 170
- CUI Registry
- NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2
Why manufacturing environments are different
Most CMMC guidance is written for IT-centric organizations — companies where CUI lives primarily in email, file shares, and cloud storage. That framing doesn't map cleanly to a machine shop or contract manufacturer where CUI might flow through:
- Engineering drawings downloaded to a CAD workstation on the shop floor
- ERP or MES systems used to route work orders tied to controlled programs
- USB drives used to transfer files to CNC machines
- Shared network drives accessed by engineers, machinists, and quality personnel
- Email attachments from primes containing specifications, drawings, or revision notices
- Government-furnished equipment or tooling physically on-site
Each of these scenarios requires deliberate scoping decisions — not a generic checklist. The right scoping answer depends on what systems actually touch the CUI and what separation is practical in your production environment.
Manufacturing-specific CMMC scenarios we handle
Shop floor workstations without full IT controls
CNC program files and work order routers on the shop floor are often on machines that don't support standard endpoint security tools. We help design scope boundaries that separate production-floor systems from CUI where possible.
ERP systems with CUI-adjacent data
ERP systems that store customer part numbers, quantities, and contract references tied to defense programs may be in scope for CMMC — even if they don't store the actual drawings. We evaluate each module.
Removable media and USB handling
USB transfer to CNC machines is common. When that transfer path carries CUI (program files tied to controlled drawings), CMMC's media protection requirements apply. We help establish a compliant workflow.
Multiple facilities with shared IT
Multi-site manufacturers with a single IT infrastructure often have scope complexity across locations. We evaluate each site's CUI exposure and design the most defensible boundary across facilities.
Mixed commercial and defense work
Many manufacturers serve both commercial and defense customers on the same systems. Separation — of data, systems, or access — is often the scope-reduction strategy that makes CMMC tractable in this model.
Let's map your actual CUI environment
Manufacturing compliance doesn't start with a checklist — it starts with understanding how drawings, work orders, and controlled data actually move through your facility. Our scope-first CMMC consulting for manufacturers does that work first, so the compliance scope fits your real operations.