The SEMI Cybersecurity consortium, launched at SEMICON West in July, has established key priorities in its mission to develop and promote a standards-based, industry-wide approach to improve cybersecurity and accelerate implementation of actionable solutions. Applied Materials, ASML, IBM, imec, Intel, Lam Research, NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), PEER Group, TEL (Tokyo Electron Limited) and TSMC were among the companies that participated in the forum. The priorities come as the industry observes the 20th National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) in October. Over the next year, the consortium will focus on the following three key actions:
- Develop a robust framework for cybersecurity that incorporates lessons learned from the recent transition and embraces open collaboration.
- Create a semiconductor industry-specific framework to assess the strength of cybersecurity across the supply chain and implement measures to better protect ecosystem networks.
- Incorporate best practices from industries such as automotive and medical with the aim to modernize security protocols and facilitate greater collaborative information sharing through SEMI.
Admirably, factories and suppliers have implemented cybersecurity measures to safeguard their operations and IP. Yet much more needs to be done to secure the supply chain. In response, leading players across the supply chain and suppliers are advocating for an industry-led initiative aimed to develop and implement a set of common cybersecurity standards – a push that animated the SEMI Cybersecurity consortium’s vision to strengthen cyber resilience and protection of the global semiconductor supply chain against evolving threats.
SEMI Cybersecurity consortium Embraces Collaboration
Critically, the SEMI Cybersecurity consortium will seek broad representation of the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain including IDMs (Integrated Device Manufacturers), foundries, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), subsystem suppliers and software companies while partnering with government agencies to enhance its expertise and reach. The consortium also plans to coordinate with other standards organizations and include cybersecurity work already underway by SEMI’s well-established Smart Manufacturing Community and Fab Owners Alliance (FOA). Ultimately, the consortium plans to consolidate all SEMI cybersecurity activities.
Remaining Planned Activities in 2023
- Monday, Nov. 6, at 4:00pm PT – SEMI will host a webinar with Dr. Terence Liu, CEO of TXone, and Leon Chang of TSMC to discuss the E187 standard and its associated reference documents. Registration for the event is open.
- By December 2023 – SEMI Taiwan expects to release the second version of its SEMI E187 reference document, which will provide guidance on securing the manufacturing floor.
- First Week of December 2023 – A 2-day workshop, planned at the SEMI HQ, will address a potential extension of the E187 reference document and the development of a semiconductor manufacturing industry profile as part of the NIST CSF (Cybersecurity Framework) 2.0 framework.
Join the SEMI Cybersecurity consortium
SEMI invites semiconductor industry stakeholders to join SEMI’s Cybersecurity consortium. Together, we are working to secure sensitive semiconductor supply chain data. For more information or to participate, contact Paul Trio (ptrio@semi.org) or Mayura Padmanabhan (mpadmanabhan@semi.org) of SEMI.
About the Authors
Doug Suerich, Director of Marketing at PEER Group, combines over 20 years of experience creating software for manufacturers across multiple industries with a deep desire to connect customers with the best solutions for their needs. Suerich is responsible for guiding PEER Group’s content, developing thought leadership programs, and managing external events. A passionate advocate for smart manufacturing, he serves as an active member of the SEMI Smart Manufacturing Technology Community, Americas Chapter, and co-chairs both the Advanced Process Control Smart Manufacturing Conference and the newly established SEMI Semiconductor Manufacturing Cybersecurity Consortium.
Brian Korn, a Staff Technologist at Intel specializing in manufacturing automation, is a 24-year veteran of the company. He recently served as co-chair for the 2023 SEMICON West Global Cybersecurity Forum. Additionally, Korn is working to establish the industry first Semiconductor Manufacturing Cybersecurity consortium (SMCC), is an active member of the SEMI Smart Manufacturing Technology Community, Americas Chapter and helped develop the new Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment Model (IRAM).