Why Aerospace Startups Choose Jones IT As Their MSP
Navigating the Aerospace Tech Frontier
Aerospace startups sit at the cutting edge of innovation. Whether it’s rockets, drones, AI, or advanced robotics, these companies are constantly pushing the limits of science and engineering. But with groundbreaking work comes an equally demanding challenge, building and maintaining the IT backbone that supports rapid development, strict regulations, and mission-critical security.
For many aerospace startups, the question isn’t if they need world-class IT, it’s how to get it without slowing innovation or overstretching resources. That’s where Jones IT steps in. In this post, we’ll explore the unique IT challenges aerospace startups face and how partnering with Jones IT as a managed service provider (MSP) gives aerospace startups the resilience, security, and agility they need to maintain competitive advantage.
Unique Needs of Aerospace Startups
Given the fast-paced and unforgiving nature of the aerospace industry, a single IT failure can cause a ripple effect throughout production, delaying launches and putting contracts at risk. Startups in this space are working on some of the most advanced technologies today, including engines, rockets, integrated chips, robotics, and drones.
In their quest to stay ahead in this race for innovation, aerospace startups face distinct industry needs:
Rapid prototyping in a production environment;
Trusted security for mission-focused applications;
Regulatory compliance for securing government contracts; and
Digitalization through cloud, IoT, AR/VR, and advanced analytics.
This combination of innovation and complexity means that IT can either be a critical enabler or a dangerous bottleneck.
Key IT Challenges Aerospace Startups Face
1. Securing Government Contracts
For aerospace startups, winning government contracts, especially with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), can be both a golden opportunity and a steep uphill climb. The DoD actively seeks innovation in areas like autonomous systems, AI-powered drones, space-based technologies, and advanced communication networks. But entering this market can be intimidating due to long procurement cycles and strict compliance requirements, which can overwhelm even the most resourceful teams.
Nevertheless, securing defense contracts offers not just funding for your startup, but also long-term success. Even small wins can lead to multi-million-dollar deals, resulting in predictable long-term revenue. Startups that align their solutions with national defense priorities often find pathways through programs like Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or via Cooperative Research & Development Agreements (CRADAs) with government customers. These avenues provide funding and validation, opening doors to high-value defense contracts that can catapult a young company into industry leadership.
However, defense sales require more than technological innovation, they need airtight security and strict compliance. FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program), CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), and ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations ) aren’t just checkboxes, they’re gatekeepers. A startup that doesn’t meet these standards risks being disqualified before negotiations even begin. For example:
FedRAMP: Ensures cloud solutions meet federal security standards.
CMMC: Validates that contractors can protect sensitive defense information.
ITAR: Strictly regulates defense-related exports and requires U.S. companies to control access to sensitive data and technologies.
How Jones IT helps:
Ignoring compliance until late in the process can cost startups millions in lost opportunities. In contrast, startups that build security and compliance into their foundation from day one position themselves as trustworthy partners. In defense procurement, that trust can make the difference between a stalled proposal and a signed contract.
We help aerospace startups eliminate security roadblocks before they become deal-breakers:
Guiding you through the various compliance requirements to ensure your systems meet federal standards.
Designing IT frameworks that are ITAR-compliant, protecting controlled technologies and sensitive data.
Aligning your IT with DoD procurement requirements.
Providing ongoing compliance monitoring so your certifications don’t lapse when they matter most.
While you focus on technological innovation, we help you protect your infrastructure as well as demonstrate it to regulators, significantly improving your odds of securing government contracts.
2. Compliance
Similar to other highly regulated industries like healthcare and financial services, compliance in aerospace is non-negotiable. Certifications and frameworks like AS9100/AS9120, NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) are prerequisites for securing defense contracts or working with government agencies.
Compliance also ties directly to cybersecurity, as many of these standards are designed to protect sensitive defense-related data. Failing to meet either compliance or cybersecurity requirements means losing out on critical opportunities.
How Jones IT helps:
Alignment With Regulations: We help ensure that your IT systems meet AS9100/AS9120, CMMC, and DFARS requirements, so compliance is part of your daily operations, not an afterthought.
Audit-Ready Documentation: From access logs to security policies, we maintain thorough documentation to make audits faster, smoother, and less stressful.
Tailored Security Policies: We create policies that meet the aerospace industry standards as well as your unique business needs, addressing insider risks, data handling for classified projects, and secure vendor management.
Ongoing Compliance Support: As regulations evolve, we keep your systems and processes updated, ensuring you’re never caught off guard.
3. Cybersecurity
Aerospace startups are not just protecting sensitive data, they’re protecting intellectual property that could define the future of defense, space exploration, or autonomous flight. This makes them highly attractive targets for state-sponsored hackers, industrial espionage, and ransomware groups. The risks extend beyond stolen data; a single breach could cost millions in lost contracts and reputational damage.
How Jones IT helps:
Multi-Layered Security Architecture: We secure your infrastructure with multiple defense layers, protecting your network, endpoint, identity, and application, so even if one layer is breached, others stand guard.
24/7 Threat Monitoring and Rapid Response: Our security systems work around the clock, detecting anomalies in real time and neutralizing threats before they spread.
Regular Audits and Vulnerability Assessments: We don’t just set up defenses, we continuously monitor and test them to uncover weak spots before attackers do.
Comprehensive Risk Management: We develop tailored risk models that address not just external threats, but also insider risks and supply chain vulnerabilities that often go unnoticed.
4. Day-to-Day IT Helpdesk
The aerospace industry is an unforgiving one, where even small issues can cause huge disruptions. A software crash can delay simulations; a forgotten password can lock an engineer out of critical systems; a faulty workstation can derail an entire team’s productivity. What might be a minor inconvenience in another industry can have massive downstream effects in aerospace, where every project is tied to milestones, deadlines, and sometimes government contracts.
How Jones IT helps:
Multi-Channel, Always-On Support: Whether your team prefers Slack, Teams, phone, email, or a ticketing system, support is available where you are. So issues are resolved in minutes, not hours.
Dedicated Team Familiar with Your Tech Stack: At Jones IT, each client is assigned to a specialized IT Team consisting of IT consultants, security specialists, network engineers, and an account manager, which ensures highly personalized service from a team that deeply understands your environment.
Comprehensive Tier 1–3 Support: Another advantage of our team-based approach is that clients have direct access to exactly the expertise they need. From routine password resets to cloud optimization to coordinating with external vendors or specialists, our unique support model ensures issues reach the right expert quickly.
5. Digital Transformation
Aerospace startups thrive not only on innovation but also on digital transformation. They are often early adopters of cutting-edge technologies, leveraging cloud computing for scalability, AI for predictive modeling, IoT for connected systems, and AR/VR for design and training. But integrating new technologies into existing infrastructure is rarely seamless. Compatibility issues, data silos, and scalability challenges can stall innovation if not managed properly.
How Jones IT helps:
Strategic Technology Roadmaps: We help you map out which technologies to adopt, when to adopt them, and how to integrate them with minimal disruption.
Scalable Infrastructure Design: We ensure your systems grow with you, avoiding the costly rip-and-replace cycle as your needs expand.
Seamless Integration Into Existing Systems: From linking IoT sensors to analytics platforms to migrating legacy workloads into the cloud, we handle the technical heavy lifting, enabling you to fully focus on innovation.
Why Aerospace Startups Choose Jones IT
At Jones IT, we understand that aerospace startups need much more than run-of-the-mill IT services, they need IT service that is resilient, fast, reliable, and secure. Our approach combines cutting-edge security with responsive day-to-day support and long-term strategic guidance, making us ideal partners for organizations working in fast-paced, deep tech environments.
That’s why aerospace innovators trust Jones IT as their MSP. We help them move faster, stay secure, and focused on what matters most, building the future of aerospace.
Conclusion: IT That Fuels Innovation
The aerospace industry rewards speed, precision, and security. But without the right IT partner, even the most promising startups can stumble. By providing robust cybersecurity, dependable IT support, seamless digital transformation, and expert compliance management, Jones IT empowers aerospace startups to achieve their missions with confidence.
Are you an aerospace startup looking to strengthen your IT foundation? Jones IT is here to help you scale smarter, safer, and faster. Click the button below to schedule a free consultation.
About The Author
Hari SubediMarketing Manager at Jones IT
Hari is an online marketing professional with a focus on content marketing. He writes on topics related to IT, Security, and Small Business. He is also the founder and managing director of Girivar Kft., a business services company located in Budapest, Hungary.
