Volume 14, Issue 9 — May 10, 2022

rAVeDS — Volume 14, Issue 9 — May 10, 2022

May 10, 2022 | Volume: 14 | Issue: 9

Hello, everyone! In this newsletter, Sara Abrons writes about the semiconductor shortage — which she’s written about before — but this time, she tells you all about the companies that make semiconductor lithography equipment, why that equipment is important and why one of those companies created a tiny bottleneck in the shortage.

Hope Roth writes about ransomware and what integrators can do to protect your company’s information!

P.S. we are at ISE this week so we are busy as ever! Don’t forget to continually check out ravepubs.com/ise2022 for all your show coverage!

P.P.S. Today is the last day to nominate your picks for the Readers’ Choice Awards, so go ahead and get your selections in!

— Steph Beckett

COLUMNS

+ How a Dutch Company Became a Tiny Bottleneck in the Enormous Semiconductor Supply Problem [Sara Abrons]

With such huge capital costs for opening new semiconductor foundries, and the time and effort it takes to get such facilities going, the semiconductor industry relies heavily upon accurate forecasting and demand planning to understand what the market will demand in future years. Unprecedented events like the COVID-19 pandemic have thrown all forecasts out the window.

+ A (Fictional) Integrator’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day [Hope Roth]

Every company should fear a ransomware attack, but AV companies are in a uniquely precarious position. Our systems are closely integrated into our clients’ infrastructure and we are often privy to sensitive information. This one-two punch of trust and vulnerability makes for a tempting target. Add in many firms’ lackadaisical approach when it comes to basic cybersecurity precautions and it’s a small wonder that we don’t hear more horror stories.