If you’re still trying to wrap your head around CMMC, you’re not alone.
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, which took effect on November 11, is complex — and many manufacturers are still figuring out what it means for their workforces.
The stakes are high: If your business touches the defense supply chain, cybersecurity compliance is no longer optional.
Across the sector, OEMs and suppliers are racing to prepare. To meet this growing need, in early 2025 MxD Learn launched the Curriculum and Pathways Integrating Technology and Learning (CAPITAL) program. Five free, virtual training courses build the skills needed to safeguard the digital systems that keep manufacturing running — including two focused specifically on cybersecurity:
- Cybersecurity Analyst, which addresses cybersecurity readiness, training, and communication
- Supply Chain Cybersecurity Compliance Specialist, which gives workers the tools to support the adoption of new standards and processes in cybersecurity
Why cybersecurity in manufacturing matters more than ever
Manufacturing is one of the world’s top targets for cyberattacks. Ransomware, supply chain breaches, and data theft can halt production lines and expose sensitive information.
As factories grow smarter and more connected, their digital footprints — and their vulnerabilities — expand. Yet many small and mid-sized manufacturers still lack dedicated cybersecurity teams.
That’s where CMMC comes in. CMMC sets clear, enforceable standards based on NIST 800-171, ensuring that every contractor in the defense supply chain protects sensitive government data.
For manufacturers, this marks a turning point: Cybersecurity is no longer optional — it’s essential for competitiveness, continuity, and trust. And it means that those who understand cybersecurity and compliance will be in demand.
Training the manufacturing cyber workforce
The good news: many manufacturing professionals already have what it takes. Process discipline, precision, and risk management are second nature on the factory floor, and those same strengths are critical in cyber defense roles.
The challenge: Manufacturers need more skilled cybersecurity workers just as those roles are expanding in scope and importance.
Cybersecurity analysts help safeguard companies, processes, and equipment by leading cybersecurity readiness training and communications. They understand how attacks happen, how systems are defended, and how to identify and monitor potential threats.
Traditionally, analysts have focused on identifying and responding to incidents as they occurred. Under CMMC, their role expands. Analysts are now expected to anticipate risks and ensure systems continuously meet compliance standards. Their responsibilities blend technical expertise with collaboration skills across:
- Threat detection and response
- Continuous compliance monitoring
- Operational technology (OT) security and
- Supply chain risk management
While analysts defend systems day to day, supply chain cybersecurity compliance specialists ensure manufacturers adopt and uphold the latest cyber standards and practices. With CMMC, these roles are becoming even more critical to operations.
Before CMMC, many compliance specialists focused on advising teams on NIST 800-171 controls or documenting security practices. Today, they’re responsible for demonstrating and maintaining certification readiness by:
- Preparing for formal third-party assessments (no more self-attestation)
- Ensuring every control — across systems, processes, and partners — is verifiable
- Maintaining audit trails and continuous evidence collection
Upskilling for CMMC compliance
With CMMC in effect, manufacturers across the defense supply chain need trained professionals who can meet evolving cybersecurity requirements.
MxD Learn’s CAPITAL program offers free, virtual training that equips workers with the skills to ensure compliance — and to protect manufacturers and the systems that power the U.S. economy. To learn more and enroll, visit MxD’s Virtual Training Center.