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In the complex world of semiconductor manufacturing, equipment uptime is critical to productivity. Modern industrial operations are no longer limited by physical boundaries. When issues arise, quick resolution is essential, a unique challenge with global supply chains and specialized expertise scattered across continents. Rapid advancements in Industrial IoT (IIoT) make securing and optimizing remote equipment monitoring and access essential.
A specialized IIoT platform manages supplier remote connectivity for the semiconductor industry and the only solution built to address the needs of both equipment suppliers and fabs. It enables OEMs and fabs to collaborate by providing a secure, efficient and real-time remote access solution to secure intellectual property (IP), enhancing equipment performance and streamlining remote operations.
Without a neutral intermediary such as this, a patchwork of varying connectivity solutions would emerge, forcing either fabs or equipment suppliers to accept or deny the other’s solution based on concerns about equipment safety, personnel security, virus proliferation or potential misuse. The complexity would be difficult and costly to manage effectively.
Source: PDF Solutions
The “Single Pane of Glass” Approach
An IIoT platform functions as a “single pane of glass” concept—similar to how TSA operates at U.S. airports, funneling all travelers through a single screening point before they proceed to multiple gates.
For semiconductor manufacturers, this means replacing dozens of separate connections from different equipment suppliers with one secure connection, simplifying network management and security. Similarly, equipment manufacturers benefit by establishing one connection rather than maintaining separate connections to each client fab.
The platform consists of two major components—ServiceNet and SecureWise Server. ServiceNet is a closed global private network connecting equipment suppliers and fabs through strategically positioned hubs in key industry locations. It operates primarily through IPsec VPN tunnels, creating an encrypted pathway that serves as the outermost security shield. Only subscribers can access this network, filtering out unwanted traffic that might otherwise reach production environments. Data flowing through gets double-encryption protection through the IPsec VPN encryption at the network level and transport layer security (TLS)/Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) encryption between end points.
The server is deployed at each fab site and connects to ServiceNet through an IPsec VPN tunnel and serves as a triple-A (Authentication, Authorization, and Audit) server. Authentication verifies user identity, authorization controls access permissions and audit maintain comprehensive logs of user activities, including timestamps for actions like file transfers.
The server includes numerous security safeguards including antivirus protection. All file transfers—whether equipment logs being downloaded for analysis or software updates being deployed to equipment—undergo antivirus scanning before transmission. If malicious code is detected, files are automatically quarantined.
These servers are regularly maintained to provide regular updates to the operating system, application software and antivirus definitions with virus definitions typically updated daily. Its value is its ability to balance competing priorities. For fabs, that means enhanced security and safety, improved equipment uptime, faster issue resolution and centralized access control For OEMs, it offers uniform connectivity across their installed base, the ability to manage equipment fleet holistically and at reduced travel time and costs, as well as protection of proprietary information and faster response.
Business Impact
The business value of platforms extends beyond security. By enabling rapid remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, the platform helps reduce equipment downtime, lowers operational costs and supports equipment across geographical distances. It minimizes customer frustration from support delays and allows preliminary problem-solving before on-site visits.
In semiconductor manufacturing, where production equipment represents massive capital investments and downtime can cost millions, SecureWISE platforms from PDF Solutions and others like this play a vital role in maximizing equipment utilization and factory output.