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IT Support for CNC Engineering & Precision Manufacturing

Your Aerospace Work Demands Micron-Level Precision. Your IT Should Meet the Same Standard.

When your DMG Mori 5-axis mill or Trumpf press brake can’t receive CAM files because the network is down, production stops. When SolidWorks crashes mid-render, your engineers lose hours. When your IT provider accepts recurring issues without investigating root cause, you’re managing IT complexity on top of running a precision engineering business.


We’re problem-solvers who match your engineering mindset. When something fails repeatedly, we investigate root cause – we don’t accept “it just does that.”

You’re engineers. You investigate root cause. You expect the same from your IT provider.

 

But you’re the one left to figure it all out.

You’re Running Aerospace-Grade Engineering on Consumer-Grade IT

You’re running a precision engineering business. CNC machines, CAD/CAM systems, aerospace contracts, defence work. Every micron matters. Your clients demand Cyber Essentials certification. Your tolerances are measured in thousandths of a millimetre.

 

But your IT? It’s the one part of your operation that doesn’t meet your own standards.

 

Because your current IT provider hasn’t figured out secure DNC networking, your team is still using “sneaker-net” – physically walking G-code files from the design office to the shop floor. Which version is current? Who knows. It’s a version control nightmare that wastes time and creates risk.

Scanner fails every Tuesday morning? “It just does that.” Network slows down when engineers are rendering complex assemblies in SolidWorks? “Have you tried restarting?” They lack the curiosity and problem-solving drive you’d expect from anyone working with engineering firms.

 

You’re engineers. You investigate root cause. You expect the same from your IT provider.

You’re juggling operations, quality control, winning aerospace and defense contracts that demand certifications you’re not sure how to achieve. Your Mazak lathe runs on Fanuc controls from 2003. Your newest DMG Mori machine needs network access but can’t be on the same segment as your business systems for security reasons.


And you’re the one figuring this out – because your current provider doesn’t understand manufacturing IT well enough to offer solutions.

Your engineering processes are cutting-edge. Your IT feels 10 years behind. You know you need to modernize – network segmentation for legacy machines, proper backup and version control, certified workstations that don’t lag during CAD rendering, Cyber Essentials certification to keep winning contracts.


But where do you even start?

Why Engineering Firms Are Different

Manufacturing IT Isn’t Office IT

 

Generic IT providers treat your engineering firm like any other office. They don’t understand the difference between supporting accountants and supporting precision manufacturing. Here’s what makes your IT requirements unique:

Your CNC machines can’t wait for slow networks or system crashes. Spindle time is the only time you make money. When your Haas mill can’t receive a toolpath from Mastercam because the network is unstable, production stops. When engineers wait for SolidWorks assemblies to render on underpowered workstations, they’re not innovating.


Your IT infrastructure is as mission-critical as your machine tools.

Before sending a program to a DMG Mori machine, your engineers simulate it in Vericut. If there’s an error in the code, the spindle crashes into the workpiece – costing tens of thousands in repairs and weeks of downtime. This simulation demands GPU power that standard office PCs can’t deliver.


An engineer waiting for a 3D model to render is an engineer who isn’t productive. Render time shouldn’t delay spindle time.

You’re running machines from the 1990s and early 2000s – Fanuc-controlled mills on Windows XP, or even machines with floppy disk readers. These can’t be patched or upgraded, but they need network access to receive CAM files from modern design workstations.


Most IT providers either refuse to touch legacy equipment or connect it unsafely. You need network segmentation that keeps these machines productive while maintaining Cyber Essentials compliance.

Your aerospace and defence clients demand proof of cybersecurity measures. You need Cyber Essentials certification – not just to tick a box, but because you’re protecting client designs, proprietary specifications, and intellectual property worth millions.

 

One security breach doesn’t just cost you money – it costs you contracts.

Your engineers need NVIDIA RTX (formerly Quadro) or AMD Radeon Pro workstation GPUs – not gaming cards. SolidWorks and Autodesk certify specific professional graphics cards. Use a non-certified card and the software provider refuses support.

 

Because in precision engineering, a single pixel calculated incorrectly could represent a 0.001mm measurement error that ruins a £5,000 titanium part.

The Lumina Difference

We’re Engineers by Mindset

When something fails repeatedly, we investigate root cause. We don’t accept “it just does that.” We don’t close tickets without solving problems.

You hold your engineering work to aerospace standards. We hold our IT work to the same standard of precision.

We’ve Solved These Problems Before

DNC networking to eliminate USB stick sneaker-net. Network segmentation for Fanuc machines on Windows XP. Certified workstations for complex SolidWorks assemblies. Cyber Essentials certification for shops with legacy equipment.

We’re Local Partners You’ll Know By Name

When production is down, you need answers immediately – not from a distant call center, but from local engineers who can be on-site within the hour if needed. You’ll know your Lumina team by name, and we’ll understand your shop floor as well as your design office.

We Speak Your Language

Not because we studied CNC engineering, but because we’ve solved these problems for dozens of precision manufacturing firms across Hertfordshire and the home counties.

We Plan for Business Value, Not Just IT Function

We help you achieve Cyber Essentials so you can bid on defense contracts. We document infrastructure for potential buyers. We specify workstations that eliminate rendering delays. We understand how IT impacts your business – not just how systems function.

Our Engineering-Specific Services

Your engineers spend their days in SolidWorks, Mastercam, Fusion 360, or Autodesk Inventor. These applications demand workstation-grade hardware – not standard office PCs.

 

What we provide:

Certified Workstations
We specify and deploy NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon Pro graphics cards certified by SolidWorks and Autodesk. These aren’t gaming GPUs – they’re professional cards with ECC (Error Correction Code) memory and driver certification. If your software glitches on a non-certified card, the vendor refuses support. We ensure your hardware meets certification requirements.

 

GPU Performance That Matches Your Complexity
Rendering complex assemblies – like a jet engine turbine with thousands of components – requires 8-16GB VRAM and serious GPU compute power. We configure workstations that handle your most demanding models without lag, so your engineers can rotate, zoom, and manipulate designs in real-time.

 

Network Performance for Large File Transfers
CAD assemblies and CAM toolpaths can be gigabytes in size. We design networks that transfer these files quickly between your design office and shop floor – no more waiting 10 minutes for a file to copy over a slow connection.

 

Simulation Performance
Running Vericut simulations to prevent machine crashes demands computational power. We ensure your workstations can run digital twins at full frame rate – because missing a collision in simulation means potential £20k+ damage to your machine tools.

 

Storage That Protects Your IP
Your CAD files and G-code represent thousands of hours of engineering work and millions in intellectual property. We implement versioned backups with rapid recovery – because accidentally running an old version of a part file and ruining a £5,000 block of titanium is expensive.

 

The goal: Engineers working at full productivity, not waiting for computers to catch up with their design complexity.

Many precision engineering firms run CNC machines from the 1990s and early 2000s. These machines are reliable, paid for, and still produce excellent work – but they run on Windows XP, Windows 7, or even DOS. They can’t be patched or upgraded without breaking the machine controller software.

 

The challenge: These machines need network access to receive CAM files from modern design workstations, but connecting unsupported operating systems to your business network creates security vulnerabilities that fail Cyber Essentials certification.

 

How we solve it:

Network Segmentation for Legacy Equipment
We create isolated network segments for legacy CNC machines. Your Fanuc-controlled mills and Mazak lathes can receive G-code files from the design office, but they’re separated from your business systems, email, and internet access. This keeps production running while maintaining security compliance.

 

Secure File Transfer Without USB Sticks
We implement DNC (Direct Numerical Control) networking or secure file transfer systems that move CAM files from your design workstations to shop floor machines without USB stick “sneaker-net.” Version control is maintained, and you know which G-code is current.

 

Support for Industrial Control Systems
Whether your machines run Fanuc, Siemens, Heidenhain, or other industrial controls, we understand the networking requirements and limitations of these systems. We don’t try to force modern IT security practices onto equipment that can’t support them – we design around the constraints intelligently.

 

Cyber Essentials Compliance Despite Legacy Equipment
Having old machines doesn’t disqualify you from Cyber Essentials certification – improper network design does. We architect networks that pass certification requirements while keeping your legacy equipment productive.

 

The goal: Your legacy machines keep making money without compromising your security posture or contract eligibility.

 

If you’re serving aerospace, defense, automotive, or medical device clients, you already know: Cyber Essentials certification isn’t optional anymore. It’s a contract requirement. Without it, you can’t bid on government work or supply major OEMs.


What certification actually requires:
The Five Essential Controls
Cyber Essentials verifies you’ve implemented: firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection, and security update management. This sounds simple – until you realise your shop floor has legacy machines that can’t be patched, CAD workstations that need admin access, and engineers who need to install software for new projects.


We guide you through the entire process:
Assessment & Gap Analysis
We audit your current security posture against Cyber Essentials requirements, identifying what’s already compliant and what needs addressing. No surprises when the assessor arrives.


Technical Implementation
We implement the required controls in ways that don’t disrupt production. Network segmentation for legacy machines. Properly configured firewalls. Malware protection that doesn’t slow down CAD rendering. Security update management that doesn’t break machine controllers.


Documentation & Evidence
Certification requires evidence that controls are properly implemented. We prepare the documentation, screenshots, and network diagrams the assessor needs to verify compliance.


Support Through Assessment
Whether you’re pursuing basic Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus (with hands-on technical audit), we support you through the external assessment process.


Beyond the Certificate – Actual Security
We don’t just help you pass certification – we implement security measures that genuinely protect your intellectual property, client designs, and proprietary specifications. The certificate opens doors to contracts. The actual security protects your business and your clients.


The goal: Certification achieved without disrupting production, maintained without constant effort, and backed by security measures that actually protect what matters.

 

Your CAD files, G-code, toolpaths, and manufacturing processes represent years of engineering development and millions in intellectual property value. Losing this data – through hardware failure, ransomware, or theft – doesn’t just disrupt operations. It destroys competitive advantage.

 

How we protect your most valuable assets:

Versioned Backup Systems
Your engineers iterate designs constantly. We implement backup systems that preserve version history – so if someone needs to revert to last week’s design or recover a deleted component, it’s available immediately. This isn’t just disaster recovery – it’s production accuracy and quality control.

 

Rapid Recovery Capability
If a workstation fails or becomes infected with ransomware, your engineer can’t afford to lose days waiting for data recovery. We design backup systems with rapid restore capability – often getting engineers back to work within hours, not days.

 

Protection Against Ransomware
Manufacturing is a prime target for ransomware because production downtime is so expensive (often thousands of pounds per hour). We implement multiple defensive layers: network segmentation, endpoint protection, offline backup copies that ransomware can’t encrypt.

 

Client IP Confidentiality
When aerospace or defence clients send you proprietary designs, concept drawings, or classified specifications, you’re responsible for protecting their IP as securely as your own. We implement access controls, encrypted storage, and audit logging that demonstrates to clients you take their confidentiality seriously.

 

Secure File Sharing with Clients
Email attachments aren’t appropriate for sending multi-gigabyte CAD assemblies or sharing sensitive design files. We implement secure file transfer systems that protect data in transit and provide audit trails showing who accessed what and when.

 

The goal: Your intellectual property and your clients’ confidential data protected with the same precision you apply to manufacturing.

Many engineering firm owners are in their 50s or 60s, thinking about the next chapter – whether that’s selling the business, transitioning to new leadership, or preparing for retirement.

 

Proper IT infrastructure significantly increases business valuation. Prospective buyers look for “clean” systems, not a mess of undocumented networks, legacy machines held together with hope, and tribal knowledge that disappears when key people leave.

 

How we help you build exit-ready IT:

Documentation That Outlasts Individuals
We document your network architecture, system configurations, software licenses, vendor relationships, and support procedures. This knowledge doesn’t live in one person’s head – it’s captured in a way that survives transitions.

 

Infrastructure That Scales
Buyers want to see IT systems that can support growth, not systems that barely handle current operations. We build infrastructure with headroom – capacity planning that shows potential buyers the business can expand without immediate IT investment.

 

Compliance & Certification Maintained
Cyber Essentials certification, GDPR compliance, and industry-specific security measures demonstrate to buyers that the business is professionally managed and contract-ready.

 

Reducing Owner Dependency
If the business relies on the owner being the “IT person who knows how everything works,” it’s less attractive to buyers. We take that burden off you – proper IT management by professionals, not the MD troubleshooting printers between client meetings.

 

Business Continuity During Transition
Whether you’re selling, transitioning leadership, or bringing in partners, IT systems continue operating smoothly throughout the change. No disruption to production, no loss of knowledge, no scrambling.

 

The goal: IT infrastructure that adds value to your business and makes transition – whenever it happens – straightforward rather than chaotic.

How Lumina’s PRISM Service Works for CNC Firms

Foundation Tier

Basic security controls and responsive support. Suitable for firms just starting to formalise IT management, but most engineering firms need at least Core tier due to Cyber Essentials requirements.

Core Tier – Where Most Engineering Firms Start

This is where Cyber Essentials certification happens. Proper network segmentation for legacy machines. Dedicated account manager. Quarterly strategic reviews. Your IT managed professionally, not reactively.

Premium Tier – Where Growing Firms Move

Cyber Essentials Plus certification (the higher technical audit level that aerospace and defence clients increasingly require). Advanced security measures. Proactive infrastructure management. Technology roadmapping aligned with business growth.

Enterprise Tier – Strategic IT Partnership

CEO-level quarterly reviews with Richard (our CEO and Head of Technology). Technology strategy aligned with business exit preparation or major growth initiatives. White-glove service where your account team knows your shop floor as well as your office.

Related Services for Engineering Firms

Complete IT Support CNC Engineering & Precision Manufacturing

Complete your engine and shield with Lumina:

Cyber Security Services

Beyond Cyber Essentials, comprehensive security measures protect your shop floor, design office, and client confidentiality.

Explore Cyber Security Services
Human Risk Management

Security training for your team that addresses manufacturing-specific threats – because engineers need different training than office staff.

Discover Human Risk Management
Strategic Technology Planning

Multi-year IT roadmaps aligned with your business growth, contract requirements, and potential exit strategy.

Learn About Strategic Planning

Ready for IT That Matches Your Engineering Standards?

Stop accepting IT providers who don’t understand precision manufacturing. Partner with specialists who speak your language and solve your actual problems.

View PRISM Packages & Pricing Book a Meeting With Our Team
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