TXOne Networks Supports Japan Electronics in Achieving SEMI E187 Compliance

TXOne Networks, a leader in cybersecurity solutions tailored for operational technology (OT) environments in the manufacturing sector, has announced a significant achievement. The Japanese subsidiary, TXOne Networks Japan, under the leadership of CEO Yoshio Kondo, played a crucial role in supporting Japan Electronics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Japan Electronics) in becoming the first domestic company to obtain the Verification of Conformity (VoC) certification for the international semiconductor manufacturing equipment security standard, SEMI E187.

As the semiconductor industry increasingly integrates network solutions into manufacturing equipment, the risk of cyberattacks targeting the entire supply chain has escalated. To address this alarming trend, SEMI, the global association for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and materials, issued SEMI E187 in January 2022. This standard outlines global security requirements for equipment at the shipping stage, aiming to fortify security at the equipment introduction phase and confirm its secure state prior to deployment. Such measures are instrumental in minimizing the risks of malware infiltration and dissemination.

Japan Electronics recognized the necessity of aligning with SEMI E187 due to customer demand. Initially, however, the unclear requirements and criteria for compliance led to confusion within the company, particularly concerning the cybersecurity assessments required before equipment shipping. Existing vulnerability scanning products proved inadequate for application in OT environments, leaving the company with a lack of clear strategies to address compliance mandates.

In this context, TXOne's security inspection solutions, particularly the Portable Inspector and ElementOne products from the Element series, emerged as pivotal tools. With features optimized for the OT environment—such as malware and vulnerability scanning capabilities—these products also provide report generation functions that can serve as verifiable evidence to third-party certification bodies. This support facilitated Japan Electronics' necessary preparations for compliance with SEMI E187, enabling them to achieve certification in about five months.

Following this initiative, Japan Electronics successfully integrated Portable Inspector and ElementOne into their pre-shipping inspection processes. They established a systematic approach to conduct malware and vulnerability scans efficiently and utilized automatically generated reports as documentation for customers. By effectively meeting the security requirements set forth by SEMI E187, Japan Electronics has strengthened its reliability and competitiveness in the global market.

Looking ahead, TXOne Networks is committed to further contribute to various sectors, including industrial equipment and the semiconductor industry, by providing ground-focused OT security support. Their mission is to help create safer industrial infrastructures.

About the Element Series

The Element series comprises three products: Portable Inspector, ElementOne, and Safe Port, providing a comprehensive solution to improve OT environment security inspections and asset management tasks. Portable Inspector features visual LED indicators for malware scan status without requiring software installation on assets, while Safe Port simplifies malware protection for removable storage with intuitive operations. ElementOne consolidates information collected from Portable Inspector and Safe Port, allowing for centralized management of security data.

About TXOne Networks

TXOne Networks specializes in cybersecurity solutions aimed at ensuring the reliability and safety of industrial control systems and operational technology environments. Leveraging invaluable insights gained from extensive implementations in major manufacturing sectors and critical infrastructure operators, TXOne develops practical, operationally-viable approaches to cyber defense. With both network defense and endpoint protection products, TXOne provides a comprehensive and real-time approach to safeguarding OT networks and mission-critical devices. For more, follow TXOne Networks on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.