On June 27th, the Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly posted on X that Hikvision will no longer be allowed to operate in Canada and must shut down its Canadian business. Her statement mentions that Hikvision’s continued operations would be a threat to Canada’s national security – determined as a result of a multi-step review based on information provided by the security and intelligence community.
In this decision, Canada follows closely in the footsteps of the United States, which banned Hikvision in 2022 due to national security concerns – preventing them from apply for new equipment authorizations under the FCC.
So, how will things play out and what will the video surveillance landscape look like moving forwards? In this article, I share my thoughts on this decision and make a few predictions for the future.
What This Means for the Security Industry
Hikvision has been the most popular choice for security cameras in Canada within the past 5-10 years. In fact, it’s almost difficult to spot another manufacturer’s cameras during a casual stroll in Toronto.
Other than Government buildings and public transport – which commonly use Axis, Bosch, or Avigilon cameras – Hikvision is overwhelmingly represented when it comes to video surveillance projects. You’ll commonly see Hikvision cameras installed at construction sites, condo buildings, grocery stores, and lots of other locations.
In recent years this has been changing, with brands such as Uniview and Ubiquiti becoming more popular, but the majority of cameras sold in Canada today are still either Hikvision or Hikvision OEM (non-branded Hikvision).
This ban will likely accelerate the shift towards alternative manufacturers and force the industry to adapt to new systems. At the same time, the baseline price for a security system will likely go up by 10 – 15% considering that Hikvision was the cheapest professional option available.
Will Hikvision Try to Rebrand or Sell?
While it’s possible that Hikvision will try to rebrand themselves in order to avoid the ban, it’s also extremely risky for them to do so. If they are caught, it would be a waste of resources and they could face further penalties for trying to do so.
Another option would be for them to sell their Canadian assets to a non-restricted company and try to continue doing business in Canada. This is similar to what Dahua USA did when faced with a similar ban; they transitioned to new ownership under Luminys Systems Corporation and had manufacturing moved to Taiwan and Vietnam.
Hikvision could try to do something similar, however they would face an uphill battle trying to regain the market share and brand recognition they previously had. Also, security professionals are likely to be wary of supporting a new company – especially if they could come under fire again from the Canadian Government.
What About Hikvision OEM Equipment?
Most of the Hikvision equipment sold in Canada doesn’t actually have the Hikvision logo on it. Instead, they are rebranded and sold through companies such as Galaxy Security, CCTV Direct, NSI Distribution, and others.
Other than using a different model number and missing the Hikvision logo, these cameras are identical to the original Hikvision camera. However, since they are not sold under the Hikvision name, it’s a grey area whether they can keep being sold and imported into Canada.
My guess is that because this is a huge source of revenue for Hikvision, they will continue selling OEM equipment in Canada. However, businesses and installers should be aware that what they are buying is still technically Hikvision and support for these devices could stop at any time.
How Will Businesses & Installers React to the Ban?
The Government of Canada is “…prohibiting the purchase or use of Hikvision products in government departments, agencies, and crown corporations.” This means that Hikvision will be shut out from all future government projects.
The government also warns all Canadians to take note of this decision, likely in an effort to stop them from purchasing a product they believe has weak cybersecurity protections.
However, are people outside the security industry likely to know about this announcement? Well, probably not considering there are so many other stories going on in the world right now. But, as long as those within the industry are aware, there will be a steady increase in the number of companies that stop using Hikvision and switch to alternative suppliers.
Alternatives to Hikvision
For those installers who have been using Hikvision for years, it can be difficult for them to learn a new system. Thankfully, Uniview is one of closest alternatives to Hikvision while still remaining budget-friendly, easy to use, and boasting an excellent reputation in the Canadian market.
We publish a variety of Uniview tutorials on our website, as well as over on our YouTube channel. If you’re looking for an alternative supplier, this is the perfect opportunity to try something new!
We are a Uniview supplier dedicated to educating the market about security best practices. We also test the latest security cameras to ensure proper recommendations for our clients. So, if you’re looking for a suitable alternative to Hikvision, you’re in the right place.
