From the folks at SSI, here is the intro to their article:
WASHINGTON — An interim rule that prohibits federal agencies from purchasing or obtaining telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from five Chinese companies — including Hikvision and Dahua — is now in effect.
The interim Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule, implemented Aug. 13, is referred to as Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The interim rule from three departments in charge of federal purchasing policy, including the General Services Administration (GSA), will apply to all new contracts and procurements as well as existing indefinite-delivery contracts, plus options picked up for existing contracts.
The interim rule includes language that covers any “substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system” from the banned Chinese firms (including Huawei, ZTE and Hytera) or their affiliates. The restrictions are intended to mitigate the threat of spying on the United States by China’s government.
What does that mean for you? Unless you are a Federal agency, or a government agency or company held to Federal security standards, the ban doesn’t apply to you. The truth of it is that HikVision and Dahua, two of the larger companies named in the new rules, are great entry-level cameras for most homes and small businesses. They are often on the leading edge of technology with budget-friendly price points. You will see a lot of hype around these new regulations, with security integrators trying to create an unnecessary upsell. Do your due diligence, and feel free to reach out to us if you have questions. We sell both of these brands, as well as a variety of specialty cameras, NDAA compliant cameras, and associated recording devices. With 15 years of experience in the industry, I’ll help you find the solution that is right for you.
Read the whole article from SSI magazine here.
