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Secure IT Services for Metal Manufacturers

Protecting your inventory data, CAD files, and intellectual property.

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An IT Provider That Understands the Reality of Milling & Fabrication

Let’s be honest—production environments are rarely perfect. Things go down. Things get patched. Rick still hasn’t replaced the coffee. In the middle of all that, your technology has to work—because your team doesn’t have time for downtime, delays, or duct-taped IT fixes.

At TotalCare IT, we work with metal manufacturers who live in the real world, not a spotless showroom. Your CNC machines are humming (most of the time), your team is juggling deadlines, and you need your systems to keep up without getting in the way. That’s exactly what we build—secure, steady, industrial-grade IT that helps you run your shop with fewer headaches and more uptime.

We Know the Floor Is Never Fully Quiet

You might be running a precision operation, but that doesn’t mean the tech behind the scenes is always clean and predictable. Maybe your ERP was never set up quite right. Maybe the Wi-Fi doesn’t reach the back of the shop. Maybe your firewall hasn’t been touched since someone’s cousin installed it in 2015.

We get it. You’re not alone. We see this every day in metal shops and manufacturers just like yours. What matters isn’t a flawless setup—it’s what you do next. That’s where we come in.

Case Study: IT That Listens.  How a Steel Manufacturer Found the Right Fit.

Industry: Steel Manufacturing
Company: Rule Steel
Client Since: 2024
Location: Caldwell, ID

Challenge: Outdated IT Support Creating Operational Drag

When we first connected with this steel manufacturer, their IT setup was causing more headaches than help. Their old IT provider wasn’t keeping up — slow responses, patchy support, and pricey software recommendations that just didn’t make sense for their operations. It was slowing things down instead of speeding them up.

The HR and Safety Manager, who would be leading the switch on their end, was bracing for a long, painful onboarding. With over 50 people spread across offices, shop floors, remote spots (including international workers), and a sprawling shipping yard, plus a mix of specialty software and hardware — this was no small task.

They needed an IT provider who could understand the unique needs of steel manufacturing and offer fast, secure, and strategic support.

Solution: Switch to Responsive, Secure, and Proactive Support

From day one, we took full ownership of the onboarding. They had budgeted a whole month to transition — running us alongside their old IT team — but honestly, within about a week we were already handling the bulk of their day-to-day IT needs.

The HR Manager said it best:

“I probably only needed the old IT for about a week because at that point I was having TotalCare handle all the situations.”

We quickly addressed legacy issues from the previous provider, including missing credentials and inaccessible files, with responsiveness and professionalism. Their ticketing system made it easy for the HR manager to prioritize tasks and get help fast.

She shared this example:

“I sent an email to set up a new employee today at 3:37 PM… got the ticket closed at 3:54 PM with username and password ready.”

But beyond fixing issues, we listened. We worked with them to tailor how we communicate, how often we report progress, and how we secure sensitive information — so it fit their workflow and kept leadership informed without extra hassle.

Lessons Learned & Growing Together

Like any IT transition, a few bumps came up — and we think it's important to talk about them. Glowing reviews only go so far. They leave you wondering, "Yeah, but are they really that great, or did the client feel obligated to leave a 5-star review?" Especially in the manufacturing industry, where leaders like you are trained at sniffing out BS. 

Lesson 1: Overcommunicate Expectations & Preferences

Every company’s different, and sometimes it takes extra effort to get all the right people on the same page. Early on, we realized that proactive communication wasn’t just a nice-to-have — it was essential

Here's one example: One of our well-meaning engineers hopped into a remote session with the client to fix an issue. Although he was talking with the client on the phone about the ticket, he didn't specifically ask to remote in. The client gave us straightforward, constructive feedback: Please ask before remoting in. Now, we always confirm access needs in advance. That one conversation helped us improve our service for every future client.

Inside Rule Steel

These are the types of conversations you should be able to have with your IT provider without them taking offense or reacting defensively. For us, it was an opportunity to align expectations and make the partnership even stronger.

Lesson 2: Plan the Handoff Carefully

One challenge was dealing with gaps left by the previous IT provider — things like missing passwords, incomplete documentation, or lost file access popped up here and there. While we were able to fix these quickly, it was a reminder that the transition process needs thorough preparation and cooperation from everyone involved. We encourage clients to work closely with their old IT teams before making the switch to minimize surprises.

The Results: More Than Just IT Support

With clearer communication, faster response times, and proactive service, Rule Steel gained long-term IT stability. Here's what that looks like:

  • Less downtime: Faster responses and fewer interruptions across the board

  • Stronger security: Tailored controls to protect sensitive HR and operational data

  • Smarter spend: Switched to better software that didn’t break the budget

  • Clear communication: Progress reports the client could easily share with their leadership team

  • Scalable support: Reliable IT for office teams, remote workers, shop equipment, and yard-wide Wi-Fi

As their HR Manager said:

“It’s not just about the money, but I feel like they all care and take pride in what they offer.”

After checking out five other providers — including one that felt too corporate and another too small — they found in us the right balance of professionalism, friendliness, and know-how.

“They checked all the boxes we were looking for, and still do. I would choose them again in a second — and I wish I would have found them sooner.”

Thinking About Your Own IT Support?

Let TotalCare IT help you build a resilient, secure, and responsive technology environment—just like we did for Rule Steel.

IT That Works Even When Things Get Messy

We can’t prevent every problem. Machines break. Software crashes. People click links they shouldn’t. But what we can do is make sure your IT infrastructure is built to handle hiccups—without becoming a crisis. We put systems in place that don’t just prevent problems, but also make recovery fast and painless when they do happen.

We design your environment to be secure, responsive, and able to handle the chaos of real production life. And when things go sideways, our team jumps in fast, with zero finger-pointing and no jargon—just solutions.

Security That Doesn’t Slow You Down

We know security can't interfere with production. Your team has parts to cut, orders to fill, and deadlines to hit. Our approach to cybersecurity is quiet, proactive, and built into your workflow. No locked-down nonsense, no constant popups—just smart protections that keep your proprietary data safe without making life harder for your crew.

Whether you’re dealing with ITAR, NIST, or internal security standards, we’ll help you build a setup that makes compliance easier, not more complicated.

Backups That Don't Rely on Hope

We’ve walked into shops where the “backup system” was a single thumb drive—tossed in with a dozen others in a drawer, totally indistinguishable, totally unlabelled. Sometimes that’s what you’re working with. We get it.

But that kind of setup doesn’t cut it when something actually goes wrong. Whether it’s a server failure, accidental file deletion, or a ransomware attack, you need to know your data is safe, recent, and ready to restore—no digging through drawers required.

We build backup and disaster recovery systems that work silently in the background, backing up everything automatically and securely. And when something breaks, we make sure getting it back doesn’t involve a wild goose chase through USB drives from five years ago.

Cody at Rule Steel

Are you a Prime Contractor or Subcontractor with the DoD? 

If your company has a contract with the DoD, is a supplier to a DoD prime (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman), or handles or processes Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) — such as technical drawings, specifications, or procurement data, then CMMC compliance is required.

At TotalCare IT, we guide you to CMMC compliance by assessing your current cybersecurity, identifying gaps, and creating a roadmap to meet the required maturity level. We help implement necessary controls, document processes, train your team, and prepare you for the official C3PAO assessment. Our support ensures you achieve and maintain certification to secure DoD contracts.

Here's a cheat sheet.

When CMMC Kicks in Inforgraphic

Cyber Safety: Treat Your Tech Like You Treat Your Tools

Every metal shop we walk into has safety banners hanging from the ceiling. Safety glasses required. Watch for forklifts. Lockout/tagout procedures. And for good reason—everyone knows how fast something can go wrong when you’re working with heavy machinery, sharp edges, and high temperatures.

But when it comes to cybersecurity, that same safety mindset often gets left at the door.

When your days are spent working with steel, your attention is on the material—not the machines running in the background. It’s easy to overlook the safety risks sitting on your desk. Clicking the wrong link, connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi, or responding to a fake vendor email may not seem dangerous in the moment—but these are the digital equivalent of ignoring a machine guard or cutting corners with PPE. They’re the kinds of small slips that can lead to serious problems.

Ransomware, data theft, system lockouts—they all usually start with a simple, avoidable mistake. And just like on the shop floor, good safety comes from habit, awareness, and the right tools in place.

That’s why we don’t just install cybersecurity tools—we build cyber safety culture into your company. That includes user training your crew will actually understand, proactive monitoring that stops problems before they spread, and layered protections that don’t interfere with production.

You already know how important physical safety is. We’ll help you bring that same level of care to your digital environment—without making it complicated or slowing down your team.

Aaron and Darrin at Right of Boom conference 2023

IT Services for Metal Manufacturers in Boise & the Treasure Valley

5519 N Glenwood St Suite 130
Garden City, ID 83714

On-site services for metal manufacturing companies in the Boise area are dispatched from our office in Garden City. 

IT Services for Metal Manufacturers in Idaho Falls & East Idaho

428 Park Ave Ground Level
Idaho Falls, ID 83402

On-site services for metal manufacturing companies in Southeast Idaho are dispatched from our office in Idaho Falls. 

You Grow. We Adjust.

Production schedules shift. New machines show up. You win a new contract and suddenly need five more workstations set up yesterday. We roll with it. Our team grows with yours, offering the kind of flexible, forward-thinking IT that keeps pace with your operation—even when things get a little chaotic.

We don’t expect your environment to be perfect—and we never judge what you’re working with. We come in, get to know your floor, your team, your machines, and your goals. Then we build a plan that fits your real world, not some idealized version of it.

Companies like Agency Arms and Rule Steel trust us to keep their data secure and their teams running strong. We take that responsibility seriously, and we show up every day ready to earn that same trust from you.

You’ve Got Enough on Your Plate.

You’re not looking for a miracle. You’re looking for tech that works more often than not, people who answer the phone when you call, and systems that make your life easier—not harder. That’s exactly what we deliver.

If that sounds like the kind of IT support you’ve been missing, let’s talk.

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