What is NDAA Section 889 Compliance as it Pertains to Cameras

There are many different types of security cameras, produced by well over 1,000 manufacturers from all over the world. With tens of thousands of options and types to choose from, most people and companies in the U.S. are unaware that many camera manufacturers are not permitted for use based on certain criteria.

This is due to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA has been in place since 1961, but in 2020, Section 889 introduced restrictions on certain camera manufacturers (and many other telecommunications products) regarding where they could or could not be used. Two prominent examples of banned camera manufacturers are Dahua and Hikvision. These two companies OEM cameras for hundreds of other brands, using the exact same components but rebranding the products with different labels.

What this means is that federal agencies, contractors working with federal agencies, or any organization receiving loans or grant funds from a federal agency are prohibited from procuring cameras listed as restricted under Section 889 of the NDAA.

At first glance, many assume these rules apply only to larger businesses and organizations. However, this is not the case. A small daycare business that receives any federal funding must also comply with NDAA guidelines when implementing a camera system. Failure to comply could result in fines, lawsuits, and bans from receiving federal funding in the future—any of which could be financially devastating, especially for small businesses.

Since Section 889 of the NDAA is revised annually, with more manufacturers added each year, here at Wired, we future-proof all of our clients by exclusively designing camera systems with our carefully selected partners that meet NDAA compliance.

Written by: Sales Engineer, Tony Tate