Knowledge Base

By Nadeem Azhar -- [email protected].

Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to meet customer security and compliance expectations while keeping IT costs predictable. For many, the assumption is that stronger security and compliance automatically lead to higher spending. 

The experience of Eutsler Technical Products, Inc. shows that the opposite can be true when technology decisions are made deliberately.

Like many manufacturing companies, Eutsler’s IT environment had evolved over time. Different vendors and sub-vendors supported security devices, printers, infrastructure, and application hosting. Each decision made sense in isolation, but together they created fragmented systems, rising costs, and growing complexity—especially as customer expectations around cybersecurity and compliance increased.

The first step was not adding new technology, but gaining visibility. Eutsler mapped vendors, contracts, and renewal cycles to understand where money was being spent and why. This exercise alone revealed overlapping services and areas where costs were driven more by habit or vendor assumptions than actual business requirements. Manufacturers can perform this step internally with minimal technical effort, and it often surfaces immediate opportunities for cost control.

Strengthening Security Without Adding Complexity

Security was approached as a system rather than a collection of tools. Instead of layering new products on top of existing ones, Eutsler focused on fundamentals: consistent patching, controlled access to systems, limited administrative privileges, and reliable backups. These measures addressed a large portion of the security standards required by customers and reduced risk without increasing operational burden.

Many manufacturers can implement these controls internally using existing tools. More advanced needs—such as architecture alignment, security monitoring, or formal compliance mapping—are typically where outside expertise becomes valuable.

Addressing Overlooked Infrastructure

Peripheral systems, particularly printers and other connected devices, were another source of hidden cost and risk. These devices are often unmanaged, running outdated firmware, and tied to fragmented service agreements. By inventorying devices, updating firmware, restricting access, and consolidating vendors, Eutsler reduced both security exposure and ongoing expenses. This is an area where manufacturers can often make meaningful improvements on their own with focused attention.

ERP Cloud Enablement Without the ERP Price Tag

The most significant challenge involved Eutsler’s ERP system. Like many manufacturers, Eutsler was presented with a high-cost cloud-enablement proposal from its ERP developer, based on the assumption that only one path forward existed. Rather than accepting that assumption, the focus shifted to what the ERP actually required—performance, availability, and security.

By designing an alternative cloud architecture aligned to those requirements, Eutsler was able to cloud-enable its existing ERP environment at a fraction of the proposed cost. This preserved prior ERP investments, avoided disruption to operations, and delivered the flexibility and resilience the business needed. Because ERP environments are complex and business-critical, this is often where manufacturers benefit most from engaging experienced partners to evaluate options objectively.

Compliance as a Result of Good Design

For Eutsler, compliance became a byproduct of thoughtful design rather than a recurring project. Clear documentation, aligned controls, and consistent policies made it easier to demonstrate adherence to customer standards without last-minute scrambling.

Lessons for Other Manufacturers

Eutsler Technical Products, Inc.’s experience highlights a practical lesson for manufacturers: controlling IT costs and meeting security and compliance expectations are not opposing goals. With visibility, disciplined fundamentals, and selective use of external expertise—especially around ERP strategy—manufacturers can reduce spend, strengthen trust with customers, and build technology environments that support long-term growth.