Do I Really Need NDAA Cameras?
At Settler Security, we work first with NDAA-compliant OEMs. Most of our proposals will, by default, include hardware from NDAA-compliant manufacturers like Hanwha and Eagle Eye.
We do work with distributors who carry popular China-manufactured brands like Dahua and Hikvision. While these brands are often cheaper, you won’t see them on most bills of materials for Settler projects. Why not?
Unless there is a specific rationale, such as repair of an existing system or stringent budgetary requirements, we believe most of our clients are better served by NDAA-compliant systems, for several reasons.
First, and most simply, for almost any company performing federal contracting or buying through federal grants, NDAA hardware will be a legal and contractual requirement. It isn’t worth risking grant or contract revenue to save a few bucks on security hardware.
Second, we do not believe our clients are well-served by systems that enable theft of their IP.
To people outside of the industry, it can seem hyperbolic to worry about security cameras stealing your IP. This is, however, a serious concern. Authorities such as the FBI and CISA have issued repeatedwarnings about the risks posed by this hardware.
We have also had direct experience with it. Although we are still a small shop with a local (Dallas-Fort Worth) service footprint, we have already worked with clients who have been the targets of Chinese IP theft. While industrial espionage is low on the list of concerns for most American companies, the simple fact of the matter is that the floor for hostile foreign interest in your products and processes is probably lower than you think it is.
Finally, as an American company, we hope that our projects and our clients will support an ecosystem of products that strengthen, rather than weaken, a base of production in American and in friendly nations.
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We don’t cut corners to win bids and that includes by substituting cheap, risky surveillance hardware for secure, robust options.
If you have a quote that includes non-NDAA hardware that might compromise your corporate security, get in touch. We would be happy to provide a second opinion and alternative quote. Our introductory consult and site survey* are always free.
*within our service area