Counterfeiting, Supply Chain Security, and the Cyber Threat: Why Defending Against Counterfeit Electronics Is No Longer Enough 2014-01-2125

Counterfeit items can be viewed as the by-product of a supply chain which has been compromised. While many industries are impacted, certain types of products can mean the difference between life and death. Electronics are of special interest, however, mechanical parts can also have dire consequences. The point is that the counterfeiting community is very diverse. The business model is fluid and unrestricted. Electronics today…hardware tomorrow. All of this leads to the need for an authentication platform that is agnostic to product. Most supply chains would benefit from a technical way to have assurance of authenticity - a benefit that could be shared by all. A comprehensive marking program, such as SigNature DNA, offers value to all supply chain participants as outlined below:

• Manufacturers will have the ability to effectively monitor their legacy components
• Authorized distributors will have an absolute way to verify and accept returns
• Defense contractors and agencies will have forensically authentic and traceable inventory at their disposal
• End users will have the power to authenticate stock to the component level