CHICAGO – Today, MxD announced a collaboration with The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers navigate the complex process of meeting federal cybersecurity deadlines.
The project comes at a critical moment for manufacturing defense contractors, which are required to comply with the U.S. Department of War’s Cybersecurity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 Level 2, as of November 2025.
“MxD is excited to partner with CDME to provide a resource for manufacturers that are navigating this new cybersecurity requirement,” said Scott Kruse, an MxD senior project engineer.
The project, funded by a grant from the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness, would create a CMMC 2.0 Interactive Playbook. The playbook will be a first-of-its-kind interactive guide that simplifies the CMMC process. The tool will help manufacturers through the certification process, translating dense technical requirements into clear, actionable steps.
“Our tool is designed to simplify the process by providing education, templates and step-by-step guidance,” said Vimal Buck, project lead and CDME director of cybersecurity. “With these resources, users can efficiently prepare the necessary artifacts to demonstrate and achieve conformance.”
This new tool will offer manufacturers tailored guidance aligned with the 110 controls outlined in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s SP 800-171. It will include editable templates for key documents such as “System Security Plans” and “Plans of Action and Milestones.” This will help manufacturers streamline the compliance process. Users can also explore interactive training modules focused on key cyber hygiene topics, including threat prevention, vendor management and disaster recovery. The tool also features real-world case studies that demonstrate how small manufacturers have successfully put these practices into action.
After initial testing and improvement with a group of small manufacturers across Ohio, the CMMC Interactive Playbook will be refined and distributed through MxD workshops, webinars and outreach events, helping manufacturers strengthen their cyber resilience and readiness for defense work.
About MxD
MxD strengthens U.S. economic prosperity and national security by driving digital adoption in manufacturing. In partnership with the Department of Defense, we convene a network to solve critical manufacturing challenges by accelerating digital adoption, empowering a skilled workforce, and modernizing supply chains. MxD is also the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing as designated by DoD. Visit mxdusa.org to learn more.
Media Inquiries: communications@mxdusa.org
