Are your CCTV cameras NDAA compliant?
They should be. Using non-compliant CCTV cameras can cost you contracts, create legal and financial liability, and damage your revenue and reputation.
Government and many public-sector contracts now require suppliers and contractors to avoid covered vendors and components defined in Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Getting this wrong can disqualify a bid, force expensive rip-and-replace work and expose your CCTV camera installation to regulatory and cyber risks.
So, when you’re specifying a CCTV camera (or an entire security camera system) for a new site — whether a high-security government facility like a prison or a large-scale rollout for a university campus — always check it’s NDAA compliant.
Why NDAA compliance matters for installers and integrators
If your customer is a public-sector body or an organisation that receives government funds, you’ll likely be asked to demonstrate NDAA compliance during tendering and contract performance. Part B of Section 889 also creates wide obligations for contractors to ensure they’re not using ‘covered telecommunications equipment or services’ — a category that explicitly names certain manufacturers — as critical components of a CCTV system.
Failing to disclose or remediate covered equipment can interrupt contracts and create legal exposure for both you as the installer and your customers.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking this doesn’t apply to you if you’re not a US installer or consultant.
Although the NDAA (Section 889) is US law, its effects are not confined to the United States. NDAA directly binds US federal agencies and many US contractors. However, because of funding rules, supply-chain risk and parallel policies in other countries, NDAA compliance matters for installers and integrators around the world.
If your customer is a government body, a defence or transport agency (or receives US funding), they may explicitly ask for NDAA-compliant equipment. Large multinational primes or bids with any US component will often also exclude vendors with covered components, so using non-compliant kit can stop you from winning work.
Even where there’s no formal legal bar, choosing non-compliant CCTV cameras can create long-term operational and reputational risk, such as forced rip-and-replace work or insurance and warranty issues.
What does ‘NDAA compliant’ actually mean?
There isn’t a single government ‘NDAA certified’ sticker. But in practice, NDAA compliant means the camera and associated hardware don’t contain components produced by the explicitly named prohibited vendors (or their affiliates/subsidiaries) called out by Section 889.
Section 889 and subsequent US government guidance explicitly include video surveillance equipment produced by certain manufacturers amongst the ‘covered’ technologies. That means you must avoid these vendors when procuring cameras for federal contracts — or for many state and grant-funded projects — if those devices would be a substantial or essential component of the system.
What to do if you find ‘covered’ technologies on site
Attempting network segmentation or short-term mitigations can be a stopgap — but many procurement authorities require removal rather than isolation if a covered device is used as an essential component. Guidance and examples from vendors and industry bodies also warn that partial fixes may be insufficient for audited government work.
So, if a device is on the prohibited list and is core to the system, replacement with NDAA-compliant cameras is often the only safe path.
- Audit first. Identify all cameras, recorders and network components and map ownership and manufacturer details. Use serial numbers and invoices where possible.
- Flag contracts. If the customer has federal funding or is covered by procurement rules, raise the issue with procurement counsel or the contract officer. Section 889 Part B can affect whether they remain eligible to contract.
- Plan remediation. Recommend compliant alternatives and present a staged plan to reduce downtime and cost. For mixed estates, consider phased replacement of endpoints and isolating legacy devices from critical networks.
- Document everything. Keep written remediation plans, supplier declarations and any communications showing effort to resolve the issue — these records are important for government audits.
Selecting the right CCTV camera — what to look for
If you’re bidding on or delivering a major CCTV camera installation, make NDAA compliance a key consideration. Replace or avoid prohibited technologies in covered projects, audit existing CCTV systems for compliance risk, and specify compliant cameras backed by manufacturer declarations.
You should look for:
- Vendor statements on NDAA compliance.
- Technical support from the manufacturer.
- Local warranty/repair options.
All of Redvision’s products are NDAA compliant, so you can be confident in the integrity, security and reliability of our entire product range.
We manufacture a wide choice of cameras that suit different project types, including rugged PTZ camera options (X-Series), the Knight Series static IP camera range and re-deployable 5G/portable towers for temporary high-security deployments. These CCTV system solutions have proven use in government, defence and high-security environments, including providing perimeter protection and internal security for prisons across England and Wales.
If you’re not sure which CCTV camera is best for your project, speak to our team to discuss your site and technical specifications — we’d be happy to walk you through your options for your CCTV camera installation. Buying directly from Redvision also gives you added benefits: competitive pricing, better lead times, direct technical support and the ability to obtain manufacturer declarations and BOM evidence quickly — essential when you need NDAA documentation.
To arrange a demo of our products or set up your trade account, contact our team today.