This year, Fasoo participated in SEMICON West 2025 for the first time as a sponsor of the Coffee Break within the Cybersecurity Forum, Secure Together: Building Cybersecurity Resilience Through Industry Alliances.
The day brought together experts from across the semiconductor ecosystem, from fabrication facilities and suppliers to cybersecurity leaders, to explore how the industry can strengthen resilience through collaboration, compliance, and innovation.
We sat down with Dimari Epps, VP of Sales at Fasoo, who attended the forum, to hear his thoughts on the conversations shaping semiconductor security, what stood out from this year’s discussions, and how Fasoo fits into this evolving landscape.
Let’s Set the Stage
Q: This was Fasoo’s first time participating in SEMICON West. What made this event stand out as an important one for Fasoo to be part of?
A: Manufacturing organizations are our ideal customer profile, with semiconductor companies being our top focus within that sector. These organizations face constant pressure to protect their sensitive intellectual property as it’s shared internally, externally, and across complex supply chains. SEMICON West brings together the world’s leading semiconductor companies and their security executives, providing us with direct access to engage in conversations around their most pressing data protection challenges.
Q: What were your first impressions of the Cybersecurity Forum and the audience it attracted?
A: The audience and level of engagement were outstanding. While not every topic is directly aligned with our solution set, the forum offered a strong platform to share Fasoo’s thought leadership and cybersecurity perspective for the semiconductor industry. Before the event, many organizations were unfamiliar with us, but they left recognizing Fasoo as a credible and capable partner in addressing data security challenges.
Q: How did it feel seeing cybersecurity take center stage at such a manufacturing-driven conference?
A: It was encouraging to see cybersecurity given such a prominent focus. Organizations strive to share information freely and efficiently, but doing so without risking data leakage remains a major challenge. The only way to enable secure and trusted collaboration across complex manufacturing workflows is to embed a strong layer of security and control directly into the process.
Key Takeaways from the Sessions
Q: Were there any recurring challenges or pain points that speakers or attendees kept coming back to?
A: A common theme was the challenge of managing outdated systems and processes that many organizations still rely on. There was a strong emphasis on modernizing technology and deepening awareness of emerging threats. Several CISOs also acknowledged that, while they operate in highly competitive markets, there’s a growing need to share threat intelligence and security insights to strengthen the entire industry.
Q: How do you see these issues connecting to what Fasoo helps organizations solve?
A: These challenges align directly with Fasoo’s mission. By building strong relationships with key stakeholders and helping them protect their most sensitive assets, we create a foundation of trust that extends across their broader ecosystem. As leaders strengthen their security posture, their partners, customers, and even competitors are encouraged to follow suit, driving broader adoption of stronger data protection practices and technologies.
Conversations and Insights from the Coffee Break
Q: During the Coffee Break sponsorship, you had the opportunity to meet attendees one-on-one. What kinds of questions or concerns were most common?
A: Many conversations centered on how organizations are protecting their most critical assets across complex supply chains. Attendees shared their trusted processes and best practices for securing data, and were interested in exploring how to strengthen them further.
Q: Were most people familiar with Fasoo, or was it more of an introduction to who we are and what we do?
A: We were definitely the new face among a sea of familiar names. That gave us a chance to clearly lay the foundation of what we do and how we help similar organizations. While I couldn’t meet everyone due to the event’s structure, the conversations I did have were highly productive.
Q: Did you notice any particular interest in data-centric security, DSPM, or IP protection for semiconductor designs?
A: Once the solution and processes were outlined, there was clear interest in data-centric security and DSPM, especially in how these approaches apply to protecting semiconductor IP.
Q: Were there any memorable conversations that gave you a fresh perspective on industry needs?
A: One of the most memorable discussions focused on the concept of trust. A professor challenged the idea of “zero trust,” arguing that absolute zero trust doesn’t exist because security professionals must inherently trust certain elements, whether encryption keys, authentication mechanisms, or processes themselves. That perspective reinforced the importance of thoughtfully managing trust rather than trying to eliminate it entirely.
Looking Ahead
Q: If Fasoo participates again next year, what would you like to see us do differently, or expand on?
A: Taking a more active role within the Semiconductor Cyber Consortium would be a priority. By contributing to policy discussions and shaping industry standards, Fasoo can position itself as a trusted partner rather than just another vendor. Leading a panel discussion or presenting a case study would further establish us as a thought leader and trusted expert in data security for the semiconductor industry
Conclusion
“The conversations at SEMICON West made it clear that cybersecurity is no longer an afterthought for manufacturers,” Dimari said. “As supply chains become more connected and AI technologies advance, protecting data, not just networks, will define how the industry moves forward.”
Fasoo’s participation in Secure Together: Building Cybersecurity Resilience Through Industry Alliances highlights the growing collaboration between the semiconductor and cybersecurity communities, a critical step toward building a safer, smarter, and more resilient future for global manufacturing.
Interview with Dimari Epps, VP of Sales at Fasoo, following the company’s first participation in SEMICON West 2025.