The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) is a set of US Government regulations administered by the US Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Together they protect the US’s national security and support their foreign policy.
These regulations control the import and export of defense goods and services (including weaponry and military equipment), ensuring any private and/or sensitive information is kept secure and doesn’t get into the wrong hands.
And they extend to wholesalers, contractors, distributors, third-party suppliers, and computer software/hardware vendors across the supply chain.
At LinguaLinx, we have a diverse range of clients in many industries. We’re used to having to understand not only the businesses we work with but the industries they’re in. This is why we use translators with not only target language capability but also industry experience.
Any Language Service Provider (LSP) working alongside military contractors must adhere to ITAR.
Any and every document that needs translating needs to be ITAR-compliant, including:
You can become ITAR-compliant and translate documents yourself; however, with the registration fees and wait time (up to 45 days), you could be liable for civil and criminal penalties if anything goes awry. For this reason, it’s best to use an LSP who’s been down that road before.
Here at LinguaLinx, we’re registered with the DDTC, which makes us one of the few LSPs who meet the geographic personnel and infrastructure requirements to safeguard such sensitive information and protect our customers from penalties.
In short, the simplest and safest option is to go with an LSP. We’re not saying it has to be with us, but there are a few key things you should be aware of when it comes to ITAR compliance.
When choosing an LSP for your ITAR-compliant translation project, ensure they:
First thing’s first, you need to locate and secure all your sensitive data.
Get everything into one place and classify it based on business policy.
By doing the prep and knowing what you have to work with, you and your LSP will be in a better place to ensure nothing is missed.
Information security should be a top priority for LSPs as it is, but when it comes to ITAR, an even more robust and stringent set of protocols is needed.
These will help prevent data leaks and security violations, including:
Sharing and exporting files is a necessary part of document translation, and in a high-stakes context such as this, they must all go through a secure file transfer process that meets ITAR specifications.
This includes end-to-end encryption through a secure transfer portal, and access to the portal should be cryptographically secured too.
These channels should also be monitored and routinely tested to check for any vulnerability that could lead to a security breach.
Control over data doesn’t just include the data itself (and making sure it sits on a secure network), but over the people who can access it as well.
Be sure to identify all users and what folder and file permissions they have; create and check audit logs to see who’s accessed what and when; and identify and deactivate any users that no longer work on the project.
Unless located in the US (and working on a US-based server), any language expert you use will need to undergo rigorous background checks and be cleared before any work can commence. Be sure to build this process into any project timelines.
Language Service Providers, on the other hand, will have access to an extensive network of language experts who have already met these requirements.
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With LinguaLinx, safeguarding the integrity of your sensitive documents is paramount. Our ISO 17100 and ISO 9001 certifications, combined with two decades of specialized translation expertise, ensure meticulous handling.
Trust in our longstanding reputation with esteemed organizations to deliver ITAR-compliant translations.