American server maker Super Micro is removing Chinese chips from its products, even though there is no credible evidence supporting Bloomberg’s claims of Chinese spy chips being installed in servers used by Amazon and Apple.
In a story that has proven to be an embarrassment for Bloomberg, the publication last year published claims the Apple had found Chinese surveillance chips inside servers delivered by Super Micro. That claim was aggressively denied by Apple and others. To this day, Bloomberg has refused to withdraw its claims or produce any additional evidence to back its claims.
Nikkei Asian Review reports that the American server manufacturer’s decision to drop Chinese chips from its products has been made due to increasing concerns over cybersecurity and China by it’s U.S. customers.
The report says California-based Super Micro Computer told suppliers to move production out of China to address U.S. customers’ concerns over cyber espionage risks. The report references the ever-popular “industry sources familiar with the matter .”
One company executive told Nikkei that U.S. customers and especially government-related clients have asked Super Micro not to supply them with motherboards made in China because of security concerns.
Super Micro is not the only company reacting to concerns over Chinese-made motherboards and components. In 2017 approximately 90% of the motherboards used in 13.9 million servers that were made in China. Last year that had dropped to under 50% of motherboards used in the global total of 15.2 million, according to Digitimes Research, a tech supply chain specialist.
In addition to dropping Chinese chips from its products, Super Micro is also stepping-up in-house manufacturing in an apparent effort to allay any future fears of security risks.
(Via 9to5Mac)