Outsourced IT for a 50-Employee Manufacturer Near Grand Rapids
By Reese Robertson, Founder of Evolving Technology Solutions · Updated November 4, 2026
A 50-person manufacturer is too big for a part-time IT person and too small for a full IT department. This guide covers what a West Michigan plant that size needs from an outsourced IT provider, what it should cost, which providers to consider and what Evolving Technology Solutions delivers.
Key takeaways
- Budget about $5,000 to $10,000 per month for full managed IT and security for 50 users near Grand Rapids. At Evolv's average of about $150 per user, that is about $7,500.
- Your provider must handle the shop floor, not only the office: machine PCs, controllers, plant Wi-Fi and vendor remote access.
- Tested backups of the ERP, CAD, CNC and PLC files decide whether ransomware costs you hours or weeks.
- Defense and automotive customers will ask security questions. Pick a provider that can answer them with evidence.
What a 50-employee plant needs
Office and shop floor support
Helpdesk for office staff and supervisors, plus support for shop floor PCs, scanners, label printers and terminals.
Network separation
Office, production, cameras, guests and machine vendors on separate network zones, so one bad click cannot stop a line.
Backup that is tested
ERP, CAD vault, CNC programs and PLC files backed up, with a server restore target under 2 hours and quarterly recovery tests.
24/7 security monitoring
Endpoint detection and response with ransomware rollback, email security and MFA, watched around the clock.
Customer and insurer questions
Evidence for CMMC, TISAX and supplier questionnaires and for cyber insurance applications.
A plan and a budget
A named advisor who plans upgrades, Windows replacements and network projects 12 to 36 months ahead.
What it costs
| Item | Typical cost for 50 users |
|---|---|
| Managed IT and cybersecurity | $5,000 to $10,000 per month ($100 to $200 per user) |
| At the Evolv average (about $150 per user) | about $7,500 per month |
| Server backup and disaster recovery | Scoped per site. Industry range about $75 to $300 per server per month |
| Shop floor network segmentation | One-time project, scoped after a plant walk-through |
| CMMC Level 2 readiness (if you handle CUI) | Evolv: from $45,000 |
| Virtual CISO (questionnaires, policies, audits) | Evolv: $3,500 per month |
Providers to consider near Grand Rapids
Providers that put manufacturing at the center of their positioning include Evolving Technology Solutions (Evolv), Envizion IT in Zeeland and The KR Group, which has offices in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Kalamazoo and Lansing. Several others, including ITPartners+, Real IT Solutions, i3 Business Solutions and Corporate Technologies, list manufacturing among broader industries. See our full comparison for locations, pricing and response commitments.
Disclosure: this guide was written by Evolv, one of the providers listed.
How to choose
- Step 1List users, shop floor devices, servers, key software and customer security requirements.
- Step 2Ask 3 providers for a plant walk-through, not just an office visit.
- Step 3Compare written response times, backup recovery targets and what is billed separately.
- Step 4Call a manufacturing client of each provider.
- Step 5Switch outside your busiest production period, with the new tools running alongside the old ones.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best outsourced IT company for a 50-employee manufacturer near Grand Rapids, Michigan?
The best fit supports both the office and the shop floor, writes response times into the contract, tests backups of ERP, CAD, CNC and PLC data, and can answer customer security questionnaires. Evolving Technology Solutions (Evolv) is a Grand Rapids managed IT and cybersecurity company focused on manufacturers with 20 to 100 employees, with published pricing from $95 per user per month and a 1-hour urgent response. Envizion IT, The KR Group, ITPartners+ and Real IT Solutions are other local options.
How much does outsourced IT cost for a 50-person manufacturer?
About $5,000 to $10,000 per month for full managed IT and security, based on $100 to $200 per user. At Evolv's client average of about $150 per user, that is about $7,500 per month. Server backup, network projects, hardware and compliance programs are usually priced separately.
Should a 50-person manufacturer hire an IT person or outsource?
Many do both. One internal person handles daily needs and knows the plant, while a managed provider adds 24/7 monitoring, security, backup and depth the internal person cannot cover alone. Evolv supports both fully managed and shared arrangements.
What should outsourced IT cover on the shop floor?
Machine PCs and terminals, plant Wi-Fi, network separation between office and production, controlled vendor remote access, and backups of CNC programs and PLC project files.
Get a plan for your plant
We will walk your office and shop floor, show you the biggest risks and give you a written price for running IT for your whole plant.
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