As a Navy organization, you're charged with protecting national security. Securing your communication and equipment systems is a vital part of this mission.

Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) compliance is a significant concern in these operations. FOCI regulations safeguard national security interests by preventing foreign entities from accessing sensitive military information and systems.

Maintaining FOCI compliance is essential for your operations. Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, loss of contracts, and compromised mission integrity. Let's take a look at:

• Why FOCI compliance is crucial for Navy operations.
• Why traditional systems fail to meet these requirements.
• What features a reliable monitoring solution must have to ensure both compliance and operational efficiency.

FOCI Compliance: Essential for Safeguarding Sensitive Military Operations

FOCI compliance regulations prevent unauthorized access to classified or sensitive information by foreign entities. As part of the Navy, you must implement strict controls to manage access to your systems and data. Whether you're a Navy organization, contractor, or supplier working with sensitive defense-related information, complying with these regulations is necessary to protect national security.

Non-compliance carries severe consequences: financial penalties, loss of defense contracts, and operational suspension. Even worse, breaches in compliance could allow foreign entities to interfere with your operations, exposing sensitive data or creating security vulnerabilities in your communication networks.

Given these high stakes, FOCI compliance isn't just about following regulations. You must maintain the integrity of mission-critical systems that ensure your operational readiness. To stay compliant, you have to implement strict security protocols, especially in monitoring and controlling your equipment and communication systems.

Traditional Monitoring Systems Can't Achieve FOCI Compliance

Many Navy organizations and contractors still rely on traditional monitoring systems not designed for our modern security landscape. While these systems may have been effective in the past, they often lack the capabilities needed to meet today's FOCI compliance requirements.

Traditional monitoring systems often use outdated communication protocols like SNMP v1 or v2 (v2c). These older protocols lack encryption, making it easy for unauthorized parties to intercept data.

Another pitfall is that traditional systems often operate in isolation, monitoring each piece of equipment through separate terminals. This disjointed approach makes it difficult to gain a comprehensive view of your network's overall health and security. Without integration, you may be unaware of potential security threats or equipment failures until it's too late. Delayed responses can lead to increased downtime, costly repairs, and security breaches.

Older systems also require manual intervention to resolve issues. Technicians must physically visit remote sites to address equipment failures or perform checks. This slows down response times and increases the risk of human error. In contrast, modern systems enable remote control and monitoring, significantly improving response times and operational efficiency.

Modern Monitoring Systems Safeguard Operations and Ensure FOCI Compliance

To meet FOCI compliance standards, you need an advanced remote monitoring system that provides real-time visibility into all critical systems while maintaining secure communication. Essential features of such a system include:

• Secure Communication Protocols: Your monitoring system must support secure protocols like SNMP v3. Unlike earlier versions, SNMP v3 includes encryption and user authentication, protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access or interception. This level of security is essential for maintaining FOCI compliance.
• Centralized Monitoring: Consolidate data from all monitored devices - whether legacy systems or new equipment - into one centralized platform. This "single pane of glass" approach lets you view your entire network's status in real-time. With all data in one place, you can quickly assess risks, respond to alarms, and take corrective action without juggling multiple terminals or manual cross-referencing.
• Automated Alerts and Logging: Your monitoring system should generate automated alerts whenever issues arise. Customizable alerts sent via email, SMS, or SNMP traps ensure immediate attention. Additionally, maintaining detailed logs of all activities is essential for audit trails and regulatory inspections (which demonstrate compliance with FOCI requirements).
• Remote Reboot and Control: The ability to remotely control and reboot devices offers huge increases in responsiveness and slashes wasted transit time. This feature eliminates the need for technicians to visit remote or offshore sites, reducing operational costs and improving response times. It enables you to quickly regain control over malfunctioning equipment, maintaining mission readiness.
• Environmental and Battery Monitoring: Monitoring environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and air quality - as well as battery health - is essential, especially for unmanned systems or remote bases. Batteries are crucial for keeping critical systems operational. By monitoring voltage, internal resistance, and temperature, you can prevent unexpected failures that could compromise your mission.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Your monitoring system must be scalable to accommodate operational growth. It should integrate with various equipment and protocols, evolving with your needs. Whether you're monitoring a fleet of ships, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or a vast communication network, your solution must adapt to changing requirements.

Building a telecom monitoring system with these features ensures both operational efficiency and FOCI compliance. This combination provides you with the tools to stay ahead of potential security threats, equipment failures, and regulatory audits.

How DPS Telecom Solutions Address FOCI Compliance in Navy Operations

To meet FOCI compliance and uphold the security of your operations, DPS Telecom offers advanced monitoring solutions tailored to military needs (that have already been proven in actual military usage). DPS equipment combines secure communication, real-time monitoring, and centralized control, providing a complete solution for managing Navy networks and equipment.

Centralize Monitoring with Secure Communication

A dependable solution is the T/Mon LNX Master Station. This master device provides a single-platform solution that consolidates alarms from various equipment, regardless of protocol or manufacturer. It offers real-time visibility across your networks and supports SNMP v3, ensuring that sensitive data remains encrypted and secure.

By consolidating all monitoring into one system, T/Mon allows you to respond quickly to alarms and address issues before they escalate.

Secure Remote Data Collection

For remote installations, the NetGuardian RTU series - such as the NetGuardian 216 G6 - is ideal for collecting data from sensors and other equipment. These devices monitor battery health, environmental conditions, and equipment performance. They send secure data via SNMP v3.

NetGuardian RTUs support remote control and rebooting, allowing you to resolve issues without costly site visits.

Bridging the Gap Between Legacy and Modern Systems

If you rely on legacy equipment that doesn't support modern encryption protocols, the SNMP v3 Proxy can help. It allows these older systems to communicate securely by converting SNMP v1 and v2 traffic into SNMP v3. This means you can continue using your existing infrastructure without the need for expensive equipment overhauls.

Achieve FOCI Compliance and Protect Your Operations with DPS Telecom

Meeting FOCI compliance is essential. With DPS Telecom's advanced monitoring solutions, you can protect sensitive data, maintain secure communications, and ensure operational readiness. DPS products offer the security, flexibility, and real-time monitoring capabilities you need to stay compliant while optimizing your operations.

Take the next step in securing your networks and achieving FOCI compliance. Contact DPS Telecom today.

Call 1-800-622-3314 or email sales@dpstele.com to speak with a monitoring expert and discover how our solutions can protect your critical infrastructure.