Do I Need to Replace My Surveillance Cameras With NDAA Compliant Cameras?

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bans the use of specific technology brands and surveillance equipment that contains components of these brands for federal agencies. If you are a federal agency, you are required to abide by the act, which prevents you from procuring or even doing business with contractors who use banned equipment. Even if you are a non-federal agency, you may still need to update your surveillance cameras. Here’s who needs to replace their cameras to comply with the NDAA standard.

Agencies That Need to Replace Their Surveillance Cameras

Federal agencies must use NDAA-compliant cameras. This means if you are a military facility, post office, jail, or prison, you must have updated surveillance cameras that are not from backlisted brands. These include government facilities at the state, local, and federal levels.

Even if your business is not directly associated with the government, you may still need to comply with the NDAA. For example, if you receive grants or loans from the government, you must have approved surveillance cameras. In addition, federal contractors who need to renew their contract with the government will not be considered if they are still using outdated surveillance cameras from the excluded brands [1].

If you are a security equipment installer who works with government agencies, you must exclusively offer approved brands to continue doing business with government clients. Even though subcontractors aren’t required to be NDAA compliant, using non-compliant equipment may still be a factor in your candidacy for working with contractors who have government contracts.

Companies Covered Under the Ban

Any cameras or surveillance equipment manufactured by Huawei, Hikvision, Dahua, Hytera, and ZTE are all included under the ban [2].

If you are a federal agency, a contractor serving federal agencies, or receive funding from the government, you can’t install or use any cameras or surveillance equipment made by these companies. In addition, the surveillance equipment you use can’t use any components manufactured by these companies, including original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts.

Fortunately, there are many NDAA-complaint brands on the market that you can use as alternatives when installing new surveillance cameras and replacing old equipment, including Axis, Bosch, FLIR, iryx, Seek Thermal, WatchGuard, 360 Vision Technology, and Solink.

You can ask the distributor or installer of your surveillance equipment who the equipment manufacturer is to find out if your surveillance cameras contain parts from banned companies.

How to Move Forward With NDAA-Compliant Equipment

Having NDAA-compliant surveillance cameras isn’t just important for national security but for complying with government standards that can help you retain your work and contracts with government agencies.

Whether you get funding from the government or work directly with them, you need a trusted partner for your surveillance equipment to ensure you aren’t installing or using cameras or components with these brands [3].

Surveillance Secure works with NDAA-compliant equipment to support approved security cameras for government agencies and those affiliated with government agencies. Contact us at (877) 388-1248 to determine if your surveillance equipment could be banned under the NDAA and how you can replace and update your components as necessary.

Sources:

1. https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/97126-understanding-and-complying-with-the-ndaas-section-889 
2. https://ipvm.com/reports/ndaa-guide  
3. https://researchcompliance.caltech.edu/compliance/export/national-defense-authorization-act-ndaa-section-889