As with all industries, cybersecurity threats are no stranger to the electronics supply chain. We can attribute the increasing number of cybersecurity incidents to the digital transformation the industry is undergoing. However, the electronics industry is also one of the most valuable industries in the world. Therefore, a top priority for cybercriminals is to penetrate supply chain companies and intercept their products by any means necessary. The following are cybersecurity challenges facing electronics supply chain companies. ·Cybersecurity challenges Supply chain companies leverage digital tools to increase the visibility of their organizations, making them more efficient and safer. But this also gives cybercriminals more opportunities to exploit. For example, companies use IoT devices to help supply chain networks communicate, update and collect data in real time. Digital interconnection creates cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Hackers can use more devices to conduct spoofing, denial of service attacks (DDoS attacks) or other network attacks based on IoT devices. The electronics supply chain also faces the challenge of defending against cybersecurity threats to the products themselves. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, about 65% of victims in industrial ransomware incidents come from the manufacturing industry. In addition to this, malicious firmware is also used to penetrate electronic products. Manufacturers sometimes unknowingly use counterfeit components with tampered circuitry. These components contain malware that launches when specific actions are performed and quickly spread throughout the device. By simply gaining access to the network to which the malware is connected, cybercriminals can take full control of the system or "detonate" a "logic bomb (code embedded in the malware)." Once the malicious firmware is launched, it is difficult to detect because it is already embedded in the hardware and the device still functions and looks like a device without any issues. Failure to protect the electronics supply chain from cybersecurity threats may ultimately result in lawsuits, fines, reputational damage, lost revenue, and other negative events. ·Proactively mitigate cybersecurity threats Our goal is to never encounter a cybersecurity threat. But if a company encounters a cyber threat, it must at least have measures in place to mitigate the negative impact, which requires attention to the topic of feasibility studies. ·Conduct feasibility studies A feasibility study helps a company comprehensively review a project and understand how likely it is to be completed, as well as investigate risks and review the project's benefits and potential challenges. In this case, electronics supply chain companies can use feasibility studies to determine which cybersecurity measures are feasible. Say, for example, you want to increase network security through a virtual private network (VPN). You can learn about the advantages of VPN such as data encryption and secure communication through feasibility studies. But VPNs are not invulnerable. They are susceptible to network security attacks and come with their own challenges, such as slow internet speeds and difficult configuration. You will analyze legal liability, technical capabilities, VPN budget, and implementation timeline. After thorough research, you can determine whether it’s time to strengthen your cybersecurity strategy by implementing a VPN. ·Strengthen data security strategy Vast amounts of confidential data are transferred through electronic supply chains. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on data security strategies in the digital world. Multi-factor authentication is another tool and strategy to enhance data security. For a person to access a website, folder or database, there must be at least two pieces of evidence proving their identity. The two pieces of evidence could be a password and a code sent to the phone, a password and a fingerprint, or a keychain and facial recognition. You should also consider creating a comprehensive training program to minimize cybersecurity attacks. Training employees on cybersecurity best practices can fundamentally prevent cybersecurity incidents from occurring. Train them on common cybersecurity attacks and teach them what to do if they encounter specific cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, educate them on how to create strong passwords, initiate software updates, use IoT devices safely, and more. The digitization of electronics supply chains is only getting faster, which means cybercriminals have plenty of time to pull off all kinds of scams. By continuing to learn these methods, you will be one step closer to safety. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google

On December 15, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Administration of Radio and Television, the State Intellectual Property Office, and China Central Radio and Television issued the "Guidance on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of the Audio-Visual Electronics Industry" Opinions" (hereinafter referred to as "Opinions"). In order to improve the supply capacity of high-level audio-visual systems, the "Opinions" propose the following eight aspects: Develop smart life audio-visual systems Develop smart commercial display systems Developing immersive in-vehicle audio-visual systems Develop high-quality audio and video production and broadcasting systems Development of audio-visual systems for education and conferences Develop intelligent audio and video collection systems Develop digital stage and smart cultural and museum audio-visual systems Development of near-eye display and laser display systems In addition, the "Opinions" mentioned that we should accelerate the mature implementation of 4K/8K ultra-high-definition technology and encourage the entry of 4K/8K TVs, projectors, laser TVs, high-quality audio, virtual reality terminals, naked-eye 3D display terminals and other products into households. Strengthen financial guidance and promote innovative ultra-high-definition content production and household subsidy support methods. Support online video platforms to carry out ultra-high-definition large-screen services. Encourage cable networks, telecommunications networks, and live broadcast satellite services to update and upgrade user access equipment as needed to enhance the home audio-visual experience. The "Opinions" also mentioned that we should enhance the international competitiveness of advantageous products such as televisions, audio, mobile phones, tablets, and LED large screens, continue to optimize the export product structure, and increase the proportion of exports of high value-added products. Promote export companies to deeply tap the potential of online and offline international markets. Help enterprises make full use of the export tax rebate policy, promote the efficient integration of logistics elements, and improve the efficiency of inbound and outbound logistics. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google

According to media sources in Taiwan, China, after a long period of low-pressure atmosphere, the market has gradually become optimistic about memory chips recently. In addition, the five major storage manufacturers have effectively reduced production, and the price of memory chips is difficult to suppress. The procurement efforts of downstream system manufacturers of memory chips have become more active, and some products are out of stock. Phenomenon. According to feedback from the industry chain, manufacturers including Samsung and Micron are currently willing to increase prices. Original manufacturers have a strong willingness to increase prices, and analysts say they need to pay attention to future demand. On December 7, media reported that Western Digital issued a price increase notification letter to customers. In the letter, Midwestern Data stated that the company will review the pricing of hard disk products every week and expects prices to rise in the first half of next year. For flash memory chips, the company expects prices to rise cyclically in the next few quarters. Based on the current quotation, the cumulative increase may be up to 55%. It is worth noting that at this stage, the industry is optimistic that NAND chip quotations will stop falling and rebound. However, most suppliers currently notify customers individually to adjust their quotations. However, Western Digital directly sent a price increase letter to customers this time, and the expected increase is astonishing. The first shot at a comprehensive price increase in the industry was fired. At the same time, the latest financial reports of many manufacturers in the storage industry chain have improved significantly month-on-month. Samsung Electronics’ Q3 net profit was 5.50 trillion won, turning from a loss to a profit. In early November, Korean media quoted multiple sources in the semiconductor industry as saying that at the end of Q4 inventory reduction, Samsung intends to increase its quotation by 20% quarter by quarter in the first and second quarters of next year. On December 11, SSD main control chip manufacturer Phison announced its November performance report, with consolidated revenue of NT$5.407 billion, a monthly increase of nearly 5%. According to Phison, the total shipments of SSD control chips continued to recover in November. Among them, the total shipments of PCIe SSD control chips increased by nearly 40% year-on-year, setting a new high for the same period in history. This also supports the news that the storage market has surged. The latest financial report of storage module factory ADATA shows that the company’s consolidated revenue in October was NT$3.791 billion, an increase of 13.43% month-on-month and 39.59% year-on-year. ADATA Chairman Chen Libai recently stated that NAND Flash inventory is expected to be depleted by the end of this year or the end of January next year. It is expected that both DRAM and NAND Flash will be in short supply next year. Longsys’ Q3 revenue was 2.872 billion yuan, a month-on-month increase of 29.03%; memory chip distributor Shannon Xinchuang deducted non-net profit of 63.77 million yuan in Q3, a month-on-month increase of 22.57%. In addition, DRAM manufacturer Nanya believes that it has been observed that the price of DDR5 specification DRAM has begun to rise, and the price of DDR4 has begun to stabilize under the efforts of major manufacturers. It is expected that the prices of DDR4 and DDR3 will have the opportunity to improve slightly in the fourth quarter. Although various major storage manufacturers have reduced production at different paces this year, their inventories have been cleared so far, and previously high wafer inventories have been gradually released. "NAND Flash spot prices have been rising strongly since the end of September, which is due to suppliers' collective production cuts. If the losses were not very serious, it would be difficult for suppliers to unite to raise prices." Wu Yating, an analyst at TrendForce, said recently that Samsung's production capacity ratio The peak period has been reduced by nearly half, indicating that manufacturers with better cost structures such as Samsung can no longer tolerate losses. By now, the bottom of the average wafer price should have passed. From the supply side, recent industry news shows that storage manufacturers are using "delay tactics" to supply flash memory in the fourth quarter. Module manufacturers tried to finalize orders for millions of units in September, but the original manufacturers were reluctant to release the goods. Even if they are willing to deliver goods, the quantity and price cannot reach satisfactory targets. At the same time, Samsung is reported to have suspended quotations and shipments of NAND products. According to the latest research from Trend Force, although the contract prices of DRAM and NAND Flash began to rise from the fourth quarter, the increase may be lower than expected. For DRAM, on the supply side in the fourth quarter, original manufacturers have a clear stance on price increases, and DRAM contract prices are expected to rise by approximately 13% to 18% in the fourth quarter. ; The degree of recovery in demand is not as good as in past peak seasons. Overall, although buyers have demand for stocking up, currently, the server field is still passive in stocking up due to high inventory levels, and the shipment growth of the DRAM industry in the fourth quarter is limited. In terms of NAND Flash, TrendForce said that at the end of the third quarter, the contract price negotiation direction of NAND Flash has been heading towards stopping the decline or even increasing the price. Looking forward to the fourth quarter, NAND Flash products will increase in volume and price, and it is estimated that all products will The average sales unit price will increase by 13%, and the overall NAND Flash industry revenue is expected to increase by more than 20% month-on-month. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google

According to the latest forecast from market research agency Gartner, global semiconductor revenue is expected to decline by 10.9% in 2023 to US$534 billion. This market will grow by 16.8% in 2024, reaching US$624 billion. "We have reached the end of 2023, and strong demand for chips that support artificial intelligence (AI) workloads such as graphics processing units (GPUs) will not be enough to save the semiconductor industry from a double-digit decline in 2023," Gartner vice president analyst Alan Priestley said. "Reduced demand from smartphone and PC customers, combined with softer data center/hyperscale spending, is impacting revenue declines this year." However, 2024 is expected to be a rebound year, with revenue growing across all chip types driven by double-digit growth in the memory market (see Figure 1). The agency predicts that the global memory market will decline by 38.8% in 2023 and rebound by 66.3% in 2024. Lower pricing due to weak demand and massive oversupply will result in a 38.8% decline in NAND flash revenue, which will fall to $35.4 billion in 2023. In the next 3-6 months, NAND industry pricing will bottom out and suppliers' conditions will improve. Gartner analysts predict a strong recovery in 2024, with revenue growing to $53 billion, a year-on-year increase of 49.6%. Due to severe oversupply and insufficient demand, DRAM manufacturers have lowered market prices to reduce inventory. Oversupply in the DRAM market will continue through the fourth quarter of 2023, which will trigger a price rebound. However, the full impact of the price increase will not be felt until 2024, when DRAM revenue is expected to grow 88% to $87.4 billion. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google

On September 28, 2023, the fifth industrial summit of STMicroelectronics, which represents the vane of smart industry development, was grandly opened at the Futian Shangri-La Hotel in Shenzhen. The world today is facing severe climate challenges. STMicroelectronics has always fulfilled its commitment to sustainable development and actively improved application energy efficiency by creating advanced optimized intelligence (digital), energy and power conversion solutions, and opened up a path to a green, low-carbon and sustainable future. The Industrial Summit is a top industry event where STMicroelectronics showcases industrial technology products and solutions. The theme of this year's summit is "Inspiring Intelligence and Continuous Innovation." Through forward-looking keynote speeches and about 30 technical seminars, STMicroelectronics let the audience understand how STMicroelectronics focuses on smart power and smart digital applications. At the same time, STMicroelectronics also displayed more than 150 solution demonstrations for the three major markets of automation, power and energy, and motor control, as well as exciting products and solutions jointly developed with customers and partners for attendees to visit and experience. STMicroelectronics executives, representatives of various product departments, regional marketing and sales leaders, as well as ST customers and partners attended the conference. Cao Zhiping, executive vice president of STMicroelectronics and president of China, delivered a welcome speech for the conference. He said that China is the engine driving the growth of the industrial market and one of ST's most important markets. Despite the impact of the epidemic in the past few years, ST has still persisted in successfully hosting industrial summits for five consecutive years. This fully reflects ST's perseverance and commitment to the industrial market. ST has never stopped technological innovation and will empower industrial market innovation and accelerate sustainable development through the latest technologies and solutions in the fast-growing Asian industrial market, especially the Chinese industrial market. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google

On October 18, Peter Wennink, CEO of ASML, a leading Dutch lithography machine company, said that demand from chip manufacturers in mainland China is expected to remain strong. "The demand for mature technologies in mainland China will be quite large, and I don't think it will peak this year," Wennink said at a press conference after the release of third-quarter results. The latest financial report data shows that in the third quarter of 2023, ASML achieved net sales of 6.7 billion euros, a gross profit margin of 51.9%, and a net profit of 1.9 billion euros. The value of new orders in the third quarter of this year was 2.6 billion euros, of which 500 million euros were orders for EUV lithography machines. By region, of the equipment sold by ASML in the third quarter, customers in mainland China accounted for 46%, followed by Taiwan, China, which accounted for 24%, and South Korea, which accounted for 20%. Looking forward, ASML believes that the semiconductor industry is at the bottom of the cycle, and customers are looking forward to seeing an inflection point at the end of this year. Customers are still uncertain about the recovery of demand within the industry, so we expect 2024 to be a transition year. Based on the current view, the company is conservative about 2024 and expects annual revenue to be basically the same as in 2023. At the same time, 2024 will also be an important year to lay the foundation for substantial growth in 2025. Reposted from: International Electronic Commerce, automatically translated by Google