If you’ve seen headlines about Hikvision being “banned” in the United States and you’re trying to figure out what that means for your business, the honest answer is: it depends heavily on who you are.
The restrictions affecting Hikvision equipment in the U.S. are real, significant, and continuing to tighten. But they don’t apply equally to every business, and they don’t require the same action from everyone. Understanding the distinction between what’s required and what’s prudent is essential before making expensive decisions about your existing camera infrastructure.
What Actually Happened: The Short Version
Three overlapping regulatory actions have progressively restricted Hikvision’s access to the U.S. market:
1. NDAA Section 889 (Effective 2019–2020)
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 prohibited federal agencies from purchasing Hikvision equipment and — under Part B — prohibited the federal government from contracting with any company that uses Hikvision in its own operations. This means a defense contractor with Hikvision cameras in its own offices may violate federal contracting requirements. The Part B compliance deadline has been extended to December 2026. Requirements are codified in FAR 52.204-25.
2. FCC Secure Equipment Act (Effective November 2022)
The FCC stopped granting equipment authorizations for new Hikvision products in the United States. This prevented new Hikvision camera models from legally entering the U.S. market. Products that had already received authorization could still be sold while existing inventory lasted — creating a gray market period.
3. FCC October 2025 Action
On October 28, 2025, the FCC voted unanimously (3-0) to establish a process to revoke previously granted equipment authorizations for covered companies including Hikvision. Simultaneously, the FCC’s “Operation Clean Carts” led major U.S. online retailers to remove millions of listings for unauthorized or banned Chinese electronics, including previously authorized Hikvision products. Acquiring new Hikvision equipment through compliant authorized U.S. channels is now effectively impossible.
Who Is Actually Required to Remove Hikvision Cameras
There are clear categories of organizations with legal obligations:
Federal agencies: Cannot purchase or use Hikvision equipment. Period. NDAA Section 889 Part A has been in effect since 2019.
Federal contractors: Cannot use Hikvision equipment in their operations while holding federal contracts. The December 2026 deadline gives contractors time to complete the “reasonable inquiry” and certification process, but the prohibition is real. A contractor that discovers Hikvision cameras in its own facilities while seeking or holding a federal contract has a compliance issue that requires action and documentation.
Grant-funded organizations: Schools, universities, municipalities, nonprofits, and other organizations receiving federal grants may face restrictions in their specific grant conditions. E-Rate funded schools, Homeland Security grant recipients, and similar entities should review their grant conditions carefully. Requirements vary by grant program and funding source.
What Private Commercial Businesses Are Actually Required to Do
Here is the part that most coverage gets wrong or leaves unclear: as of mid-2026, no federal law requires private commercial businesses without federal contracting or federal funding relationships to remove existing lawfully installed Hikvision equipment.
The restrictions are prospective (limiting new purchases) and focused on federal procurement and contracting relationships. A private retail chain, restaurant group, manufacturing company, or commercial real estate operator with no government contract or federal grant relationship is operating within the law by continuing to use an existing Hikvision camera system.
What has changed for private businesses is practical rather than legal:
- Sourcing new Hikvision cameras or replacement parts through authorized compliant channels is now extremely difficult
- Firmware security updates are uncertain as Hikvision’s U.S. market position is eliminated
- Known cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Hikvision products represent ongoing network risk
- Some cyber insurers are scrutinizing named Chinese-manufactured network equipment in underwriting
Why Many Businesses Still Have Hikvision Installed
Hikvision captured an estimated 40%+ of the U.S. commercial IP camera market through the 2010s. The brand offered competitive-grade cameras at consumer-grade prices. An enormous installed base exists across every commercial vertical — retail, healthcare, warehouses, restaurants, schools, office buildings, and manufacturing facilities.
Most of these systems were installed legally. Most business owners had no knowledge of the regulatory issues that would emerge years after installation. The question for most is not “was this wrong?” — it wasn’t — but “what do we do next?”
The Most Common Scenario: The NVR Is the Real Problem
For many private commercial businesses evaluating their Hikvision systems, the cameras themselves aren’t actually causing the most immediate operational pain. The local Hikvision NVR recorder is. Old NVRs deliver:
- No reliable remote access — footage can only be reviewed on-site or via unstable DDNS configurations
- No AI analytics — no video search, no people counting, no behavioral alerts
- Hardware failure risk — NVR hard drives fail, and replacement units are difficult to source
- No multi-site unified management — each location is a separate island
For private commercial businesses not subject to compliance requirements, replacing the NVR/VMS layer while retaining compatible existing cameras may address the immediate operational problems. Cloud VMS migration for existing Hikvision cameras is a practical path for businesses where ONVIF-compatible cameras can connect to a cloud platform without full replacement.
What to Do Right Now: By Business Type
Federal contractors and agencies: Begin compliance assessment immediately. Conduct the “reasonable inquiry” across all facilities. Document findings. Engage legal counsel. Plan replacement. December 2026 is closer than it seems for large deployments.
Grant-funded organizations: Review grant conditions. Contact your grant program officer. Get legal review. Requirements vary significantly — don’t assume either way without specific guidance.
Private commercial businesses with no federal relationships: Evaluate the operational state of your system. If the NVR is the operational bottleneck, compare the cost of NVR replacement versus full camera replacement. If cameras are working and compatible with cloud VMS, there may be a practical migration path that doesn’t require immediate full replacement. Consult your IT security team about cybersecurity posture with existing cameras on your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still buy Hikvision cameras in 2026?
Through authorized, compliant channels in the United States: effectively no. The FCC’s October 2025 actions removed millions of listings from major retailers and established authority to revoke remaining authorizations. Gray market sources exist but carry compliance and cybersecurity risks that authorized compliant channels do not. For new camera purchases, NDAA-compliant alternatives are the appropriate path.
Do I need to register my existing Hikvision cameras anywhere?
No registration requirement exists for existing lawfully installed cameras. For federal contractors, SAM.gov certification about covered equipment use is required as part of federal contracting compliance.
What cameras should I buy instead of Hikvision?
NDAA-compliant IP camera manufacturers include Axis, Hanwha (Samsung), Bosch, Vivotek, Uniview, and Milesight. All of these brands are ONVIF-compatible and work with iFovea cloud VMS and AI analytics. Check the camera compatibility guide for specific models.
Can iFovea connect to my existing Hikvision cameras?
In many cases for private commercial businesses, yes — if cameras support ONVIF or RTSP protocols. iFovea does not make Hikvision cameras NDAA compliant. See the full discussion at Hikvision NVR Replacement with Cloud VMS.
Sources: FCC Covered List | FAR 52.204-25 | Federal Register: FCC Second Report and Order, Dec 2025