Trusted ICT Vendors: The Foundation for Secure AI and Global Connectivity
As the global race to deploy artificial intelligence accelerates, the importance of trusted information and communications technology (ICT) vendors has never been clearer. Countries around the world are making long‑term decisions about the digital infrastructure on which their AI ambitions will rest, decisions that will shape economic growth, national security, and innovation for decades to come.
At its core, AI depends on reliable, secure, and resilient digital infrastructure. Networks, data centers, cloud platforms, and communications systems are not interchangeable commodities; they make up foundational systems of trust. The choice of trusted ICT vendors is a strategic one for governments seeking to build AI ecosystems that are open, innovative, and secure.
Advancing Trusted Vendor Commitments
The Administration has taken important steps to reinforce the use of trusted vendors in global ICT deployments. Recent reciprocal trade agreements with El Salvador and Guatemala include commitments to deploy trusted technology solutions, an approach that strengthens security, promotes interoperability, and supports long‑term economic development. TIA commends these efforts and the growing recognition that trusted vendors are essential to secure digital growth.
As global technology innovation accelerates, it is worth re‑emphasizing what a trusted vendor truly is—and why it provides such a critical foundation for modern digital life.
Defining “Trusted Vendors”
In 2020, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) convened a group of international experts to develop criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of ICT vendors. These criteria reflect a broad consensus across democratic nations that trust is defined by governance, accountability, transparency, and demonstrable security practices—not by speculative or hypothetical technical capabilities.
Among the key criteria identified were that trusted vendors are:
- Headquartered in democratic countries with independent judiciaries and a strong rule of law
- Subject to robust personal data protection regimes
- Selected through acquisition processes that consider labor conditions, trade practices, human rights, and environmental standards
- Observant of widely accepted international commercial norms
- Transparently owned, governed, and financed
- Demonstrably committed to ethical corporate behavior and due diligence
- Regularly assessed through independent, credible third‑party risk evaluations
- Transparent in product maintenance, updates, and remediation practices
- Responsive in identifying and remediating security vulnerabilities
- Equipped with verifiable technical safeguards, including strict access controls and continuous security monitoring aligned with operator policies
Taken together, these criteria underscore an essential point: trust is systemic. It is rooted in legal frameworks, governance structures, and enforceable accountability, not simply in the presence or absence of particular technical features.
Why Democratic Governance Matters
The United States and its democratic allies provide the political, legal, and economic conditions that enable companies to meet trusted‑vendor criteria. Independent courts, transparent regulatory systems, enforceable contracts, and strong protections for civil liberties create an environment in which companies can be held accountable, and disputes can be resolved lawfully.
As global communications networks become increasingly interconnected, the United States benefits when the networks of allied and partner nations are built using trusted vendors. Secure, interoperable networks enhance resilience, reduce systemic risk, and reinforce shared democratic values.
Trusted Infrastructure as the Basis for AI Innovation
Countries that base their domestic AI capabilities on trusted ICT equipment, infrastructure, and service providers gain more than technical performance. They lay a secure and open foundation for innovation.
As Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios has emphasized in international engagements, nations should be able to own and use best‑in‑class technology for the benefit of their people, within ecosystems that prioritize independence and minimize backdoor risk. Trusted vendors enable this outcome by ensuring infrastructure remains under the control of lawful operators and accountable institutions.
Interoperability Strengthens Trust
Trusted‑vendor interoperability enhances end‑user benefits by limiting vendor lock‑in, promoting consistent and reliable communication, and strengthening security across rapidly evolving systems. Interoperability does not weaken sovereignty; it reinforces resilience by enabling choice, competition, and architectural flexibility—key principles for modern digital ecosystems.
Building the Future on Trusted Foundations
As AI and digital infrastructure become ever more central to national competitiveness and societal well‑being, the question is not whether trust matters, but how it is defined and upheld. Trusted ICT vendors provide the secure, accountable, and interoperable foundation required for innovation to flourish.
For TIA members and partners worldwide, advancing trusted‑vendor principles reflects a core belief: resilient digital infrastructure is created by embedding trust into design, governance, and execution. This approach is essential to building a secure, open, and future‑ready digital ecosystem.
