What is SEMI E187? The Essential Standard for Semiconductor Cybersecurity Compliance

In the global semiconductor supply chain, cybersecurity compliance has become a fundamental requirement from major manufacturers to equipment suppliers.As processes grow increasingly complex and equipment becomes more automated, any security vulnerability could cause production downtime, data breaches, or even disrupt delivery schedules and undermine customer trust.

To ensure that the supply chain follows a unified set of security standards, SEMI E187 was introduced, becoming a critical cybersecurity compliance framework that every semiconductor equipment supplier must understand.

What is SEMI E187?

SEMI E187 (Specification for Cybersecurity of Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment) is a cybersecurity standard for semiconductor equipment, developed by SEMI (Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International).

Its core objectives are to:

• Ensure equipment includes minimum cybersecurity protections before shipment

• Establish a consistent audit framework so all suppliers’ products meet the same standard

• Strengthen supply chain defenses with a Zero Trust approach

  
  

In short: SEMI E187 is the cybersecurity foundation of the semiconductor supply chain.

Core Requirements of SEMI E187

The SEMI E187 specification spans four major areas of equipment cybersecurity:

• Operating System Security – e.g., long-term OS support

• Network Security – e.g., secure transmission, network configuration management

• Endpoint Protection – e.g., vulnerability scanning, malware scanning, endpoint defense mechanisms, access control

• Information Security Monitoring – e.g., logging and auditability

These requirements are not just “recommendations”—they have become the benchmark for equipment acceptance and procurement by international semiconductor leaders.

Why is SEMI E187 Critical for Equipment Suppliers?

1. The Supply Chain Passport

   Global leaders such as TSMC and Intel now require supplier equipment to comply with SEMI E187.

2. Reducing Delivery Risks

   Non-compliant equipment may face delayed acceptance or rejection, directly impacting revenue and delivery schedules.

3. Building International Trust

   Compliance with E187 demonstrates not only technical capability but also a supplier’s commitment to cybersecurity.

4. Driving Industry Trends

   In 2025, SEMI Taiwan officially launched the E187 certification program. This shows that E187 is not just a standard document—it is now tied to real certification and market demand.

SEMI E187 and Microsegmentation

SEMI E187 places strong emphasis on internal network isolation and the principle of least privilege.Traditional network segmentation is too coarse, allowing attackers to move laterally once inside.Microsegmentation restricts traffic down to the level of a single device or a single application, directly addressing E187’s internal network security requirements.

Janus Perspective: AI Microsegmentation to Accelerate SEMI E187 Compliance

At Janus, we fully recognize the importance of SEMI E187 for equipment suppliers. That’s why Janus netKeeper was designed to meet these standards:

• Plug-and-Play Deployment: Rapid installation without modifying existing equipment

• AI-Powered Allowlist Learning: Automatically builds communication rules, reducing manual maintenance burdens

• Intelligent Lockdown: Only legitimate traffic is allowed; unknown traffic is blocked

• Audit-Ready Records: Comprehensive logging to meet E187 audit requirements

  
  

This enables equipment suppliers to:

✔ Achieve E187-related network isolation and protection within weeks

✔ Reduce risks during delivery and acceptance

✔ Strengthen customer trust in their security posture

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The Janus AI-driven microsegmentation solution represents the most practical implementation of SEMI E187 for product security.It empowers semiconductor equipment suppliers to achieve compliance faster, shorten timelines, and safeguard both delivery schedules and customer confidence.

👉 Want to learn more about SEMI E187 and microsegmentation solutions?

Visit the Janus Cyber official website.