How Thorn Technologies Upgraded a Semiconductor Analytics Platform

A semiconductor analytics company was collecting multi-gigabyte test files from global partners through Google Drive. To sign enterprise chipmakers, it needed standard SFTP, per-partner access controls, and audit logs.

OVERVIEW

File Intake for Semiconductors + SFTP Gateway

A fast-growing semiconductor analytics company serving major chip manufacturers worldwide faced critical challenges managing test data from global fabrication partners. Their creative but unsustainable workaround, using Google Drive to simulate SFTP functionality, prevented them from signing enterprise customers and caused operational chaos. 

Thorn Technologies implemented SFTP Gateway on Google Cloud, transforming their makeshift file transfer system into an enterprise-grade data pipeline that can handle 100GB+ files from 50+ test houses globally. This transformation enabled SOC 2 certification, reduced support tickets, and helped drive customer growth while maintaining the simplicity that made their platform successful.

100GB+
Test file sizes supported
50+
Test houses uploading worldwide
TB/day
Wafer test data analyzed
The Challenge

The problem

As the company’s data volumes and customer demands grew, the infrastructure that once worked became a barrier to scale. File transfers, processing capacity, and partner access all struggled to keep pace with the speed and complexity of its semiconductor analytics operation.

01

No standard SFTP

The company used Google Drive in place of SFTP, which confused test houses that expected a standard protocol.

02

Failed large uploads

Multi-gigabyte test files often failed in Google Drive’s web interface, forcing manual retries and delaying yield analysis.

03

Partner access gaps

Google Drive couldn’t limit test houses to uploads and customers to downloads, forcing manual fixes and security gaps.

04

Missing enterprise controls

Chipmakers required SOC 2 compliance, centralized logging, and audit trails, so the company lost seven-figure contracts without them.

What we built

The solution

Thorn Technologies worked closely with the analytics company to implement a comprehensive solution that transformed their infrastructure while preserving what made their platform special

✓
Cloud-Native Architecture
Uploads stream directly to Google Cloud Storage, supporting files of any size and making data immediately available for cloud analytics. The setup removed local server bottlenecks and scaled with demand.
✓
Advanced Permission Management
Each partner received a custom home directory with folder-level permissions, automated folder creation, and IP whitelisting. Test houses could only upload, while customers could only access their own data.
✓
Zero-Disruption Migration
SFTP Gateway ran alongside Google Drive during a phased rollout with pilot test houses and automated credential migration. The transition was completed in 45 days without disrupting partners.
✓
RSA Key Authentication System
Thorn implemented unique RSA key pairs for each partner, with granular permissions, automated key rotation, and time-based access controls. The system delivered the security enterprise customers required.
✓
Enterprise Compliance Features
Thorn added audit logging, real-time monitoring, and automated compliance reporting through Google Cloud. The company achieved SOC 2 certification within 60 days of deployment.
The results

The results

The new infrastructure cut partner onboarding from days to minutes, improved transfer reliability, lowered costs, enabled SOC 2 compliance, and gave the company a scalable foundation for global growth.

45 days

For the full migration

0

Partner disruptions during the move

60 days

From deployment to SOC 2 certification

Minutes

To onboard a new test house

Operational gains
Strategic gains
The Team

The team behind the build

Thorn Technologies, based in the Washington and Baltimore metro, builds cloud file transfer software for Fortune 500 teams across fintech, healthcare, retail, and beyond. We design for the uptime and compliance bar that enterprise deals demand.

Have questions or want a demo?

Talk to the team that would run your migration.

info@thorntech.com

(410) 429-0255

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