Is Your Security Camera NDAA Compliant? What It Means & Which Brands Qualify

If you’re buying security cameras or recorders for a federal agency, a federal contract, or a project that receives federal funding, “NDAA compliant” isn’t marketing language — it’s a legal requirement. Here’s what it actually means, which manufacturers are restricted, and which of the brands we carry meet the requirement.

What Does “NDAA Compliant” Actually Mean?

Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) prohibits U.S. federal agencies, federal contractors, and recipients of federal grant or loan funding from purchasing or using video surveillance equipment made by a short list of named Chinese manufacturers — even if that equipment isn’t being used on a government-related project. The restriction applies enterprise-wide, not just to the specific system touching federal work.

Being “NDAA compliant” simply means a product is not made by one of the restricted manufacturers (or their subsidiaries) and doesn’t rely on their restricted components.

Which Camera Brands Are Banned Under NDAA Section 889?

The named entities are Hikvision, Dahua, Huawei, ZTE, and Hytera, along with their subsidiaries and white-label brands (including EZVIZ, HiLook, Amcrest, Lorex, Annke, and others that use Hikvision or Dahua hardware).

As of August 2026, we’ve taken our full Dahua and Hikvision inventory out of stock given this restriction. If you have an existing Dahua or Hikvision system that needs service or parts, contact us directly — we can still help with support and migration planning, even though we’re no longer selling new units from these two brands.

Is Dahua NDAA Compliant?

No. Zhejiang Dahua Technology is one of the five entities explicitly named as a “Covered Entity” under NDAA Section 889(a)(1)(A). Products from Dahua (and its sub-brands) cannot be purchased or used by federal agencies, federal contractors, or organizations receiving federal funding.

Is Hikvision NDAA Compliant?

No. Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology is likewise named as a Covered Entity under Section 889, along with its EZVIZ and HiLook subsidiaries.

Which Brands We Carry Are NDAA Compliant?

Hanwha Techwin / Wisenet — Hanwha is a South Korean manufacturer, not one of the five named entities, and its Wisenet cameras don’t use restricted Chinese chipsets. Compliance is confirmed at the model level rather than as a blanket certification across every SKU, so we recommend verifying the specific model against current documentation for federal procurement. Browse our NDAA-compliant camera and recorder lineup, which includes our full range of compliant Hanwha Wisenet models.

Montavue — Montavue’s newer Nexus Series, developed with manufacturing partner Foxlink, is marketed by Montavue as NDAA compliant. This applies specifically to the Nexus line; Montavue’s broader legacy camera and NVR lineup is not covered by that claim. See our Montavue products for current availability.

Honeywell and Pelco — both manufacturers offer specific product lines they market as NDAA compliant. As with any brand, confirm the exact model against the manufacturer’s current compliance documentation before purchasing for a federal or federally-funded project.

How to Verify Compliance for Your Specific Project

NDAA compliance is verified per model and per bill of materials — not as a blanket, company-wide certification (with the exception of the banned entities themselves, where the restriction is absolute). If you’re sourcing equipment for a federal contract, a school, a bank, critical infrastructure, or any federally-funded project, tell us the specific use case and we’ll help confirm the right compliant models and documentation before you order.

Call us at 718-354-8420 or contact us online to talk through your project’s compliance requirements.