TAA and FIPS: Why They
Matter When Buying Drives
Technology Point of View
Now more than ever, enhanced data security is a necessity for government agencies and contractors. As such, we need to go beyond safeguarding systems security must start at the drive level. Seagate® TAA and FIPS-compliant hard drives and SSDs answer this need, addressing every step of the supply chain,
reducing risks and meeting Federal security standards.
Understanding TAA
TAA (Trade Agreements Act: 19 U.S.C. § 2501 2581) fosters fair and open international trade between nations, requiring that products are produced or undergo substantial transformation within the United States or designated country. While TAA compliance is often thought of in relation to storage systems,
it also applies to individual components, such as hard drives and SSDs.
Four types of designated countries having reciprocal trade agreements with the US:
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Canada, Mexico and Australia
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Countries participating in the World Trade Organization's Government
Procurement agreement, including Japan and many European countries
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Caribbean Basin countries, such as Costa Rica, Haiti and Jamaica
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Countries designated as least developed, such as Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Laos and Ethiopia1
Non-TAA countries include:
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People's Republic of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Cuba and India
(This presents a significant issue for some electronics manufacturers.)
Approved and Recorded in the Federal Register
Seagate's TAA-compliant solutions for enterprise and notebook hard drives are the only solutions approved and recorded in the Federal Register. This eliminates the requirement for waivers for TAA storage and meets the encryption requirements set by the US Government for both US Government entities and contractors.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Any supplier having a GSA Schedule or other US Government contract, such as
DOD and IDIQs, must ensure their products comply with TAA standards. Noncompliance could lead to bid award cancellation, significant fines and potential
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