Cybersecurity and data protection as key elements for highest quality of MOBOTIX video surveillance systems

The United States led the way with the National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA). To protect against Chinese espionage, the NDAA lists specific components and companies that may not be used for telecommunications equipment (including security products) or services to sell the end products to U.S. federal agencies, their contractors, and grant or loan recipients and related entities.

More countries followed suit with the U.K. and Australia, and the EU launched the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) late last year. These companies and components of Chinese origin listed in the NDAA are suspected of being used for spying and espionage by the Chinese government.

Self-certification process

MOBOTIX AG confirms that all MOBOTIX video systems comply with the requirements of the NDAA and are 100 percent NDAA compliant. MOBOTIX does not use SoC (System on Chip) or other components that can process software from Chinese companies. In addition, MOBOTIX products purchased from OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) partners are also 100% NDAA compliant.

MOBOTIX products purchased from OEM partners are also 100% NDAA compliant

MOBOTIX has clearly demonstrated in a defined 3-step self-certification process that its video surveillance cameras do not contain any Chinese components.

The high-quality standards are also confirmed by the renowned Australian ‘Security Electronics & Networks Magazine (sen.news),’ which comments as follows: "In SEN's opinion, the most cyber-secure IP surveillance camera is Mobotix, ... with its tremendous operational flexibility and impeccable cybersecurity credentials."

Comprehensive cybersecurity strategy

Cybersecurity is an integral part of the MOBOTIX DNA. The video systems undergo regular penetration tests, for example, by the French Centre national de prévention et de protection (CNPP) and SySS GmbH, Germany's institute for penetration tests. All MOBOTIX products and solutions are integrated into the comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, whose overall measures are bundled in the MOBOTIX Cactus Concept.

"We very much welcome the growing sensitivity of governments in particular, and companies have long since recognised the danger of industrial espionage," said Christian Cabirol, CTO of MOBOTIX AG.

Christian Cabirol adds. "For many years now, we have been using only high-performance industrial FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) for our hardware and image generation chains, thus offering reliable protection for the user."

Processing digital signals

An FPGA is used for continuously processing digital signals such as audio and video

An FPGA is used for continuously processing digital signals such as audio and video, neural networks and deep learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence, making a system far less vulnerable to hacking and spyware.

"Proprietary MOBOTIX software 'Made in Germany' is used on these processors - giving us full control over what the entire system does and can do," explains Christian Cabirol.

The decentralised architecture of the MOBOTIX video systems also ensures the highest level of security, as all image processing processes, such as the pixelation of persons, take place directly on the camera, and no transmission of unpixelated data takes place.

Monitoring sensitive areas

In general, data protection and DSGVO-compliant applications are the focus of MOBOTIX. For example, apps from the MOBOTIX 7 platform can even dynamically pixelate images by recognising and automatically anonymising people.

This can be important when monitoring sensitive areas, public places, or schools. Thermal applications also offer the best opportunities for DSGVO-compliant perimeter and object protection, as people can be seen in the thermal image but cannot be identified.

The decentralised architecture also does not require a permanent stream to a server or control centre, as image data is only transmitted when an event occurs. And this dialog is always encrypted.