Understanding the NDAA in relation to security cameras
What is the NDAA?
Compliance with the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) concerning security surveillance systems is a widely debated topic. The NDAA is a U.S. law that is passed by the U.S. congress on an annual basis. The law addresses national defence and security matters, and therefore typically garners bipartisan support in U.S. Congress.
How does the NDAA apply to surveillance systems?
The NDAA for Fiscal Year 2019, enacted on August 13, 2018, contains Section 889, which specifically focuses on telecommunications and surveillance equipment. This section prohibits U.S. federal agencies and recipients of federal funds from using equipment from specified companies such as Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua. It’s essential to note that the restriction applies to products from these specific organisations, not all products manufactured in China.
Mandatory compliance with NDAA regulations is imperative for projects funded through U.S. federal loans or grants. The impact of this law spans various sectors, with companies obligated to ensure NDAA compliance, and vendors required to provide lists differentiating between compliant and non-compliant equipment.
Terminology
NDAA compliance confirms that the equipment is neither manufactured by, nor contains components from, the prohibited companies.
NDAA Certification involves written confirmation of compliance from the supplier, as outlined in the NDAA-889-Representation Form.
Significance for other countries
The significance of NDAA compliance extends beyond the U.S. government, as many other governments and private entities have adopted similar restrictions on equipment from the listed organisations, even in the absence of explicit regulations. Consequently, many manufacturers and suppliers globally have embraced NDAA compliance as a benchmark in the absence of specific regional directives.
All 4tfi products are NDAA compliant.
