FIPS 140-2

Corsec provides FIPS 140-2 news and released relevant for you to make a decision on pursuing a validation. You will learn the key players, requirements, process, timeline, and resources required to complete Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 (FIPS 140-2) validation on your product.

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Entropy Testing: Tips for Meeting Requirements

In the second post of our two-part series, we continue our discussion with panelists from Computer Sciences Corporation: Lachlan Turner, Jason Cunningham, and Maureen Barry. Continuing where we left off with last week’s post, we’ll dive deeper into entropy and answer some of the many questions now arising…

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Entropy for FIPS and Common Criteria: What Is It?

In the world of cryptography, data is only safe as long as the keys used to protect that data are kept secure. While, on one hand, this means that keys must be protected against unauthorized access, it also means that keys must be created in a way that makes them difficult for an attacker to guess. To produce cryptographically strong…

FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

A Look Back: 2013 for FIPS, Common Criteria and DoDIN APL

The end of the year is a great time to look back at important milestones and use what we’ve learned to plan for the upcoming year. This year, clearing the air where myths and misconceptions were concerned was a theme that we saw come up repeatedly at Corsec, and laying the groundwork for smooth process…

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

Dispelling FIPS Certification Myths

There are plenty of myths out there about FIPS and what it really takes to achieve validation. During our most recent webinar, “Top 10 Myths about FIPS,” we dispelled some of those myths and gave insight into what it really means to be FIPS validated and how your company can navigate the complicated validation process because of the level of detail, time, and cost involved, there…

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

Decisions In A FIPS 140-2 Validation

Trying to decide whether to perform a FIPS 140-2 validation on your product? It can actually be a pretty black and white decision. If you want to sell any product containing cryptography to any U.S. government agency or department, then the answer is clear cut: you need a FIPS validation. FIPS 140-2 validation is required for products that contain…

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

FIPS Certification Process

I have recently read several online articles questioning what it means for a cryptographic module to be FIPS 140-2 validated. While the FIPS 140-2 validation process is very complicated and replete with regulations, some of the information presented in the articles themselves and the comments made by…

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U.S. Government Shutdown Impacts FIPS Validations

As you know, the U.S. federal government officially shut down many of its operations. This shutdown directly affects NIST and, as a result, impacts its FIPS validation activities. We are sending you this e-mail to let you know what resources Corsec has available and how this situation will impact your validation efforts.

FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

CSfC and Your Product Evaluation

We have recently seen an increase in the number of clients who are asking about CSfC and how to get on the CSfC Components List maintained by the National Security Agency (NSA) Information Assurance Directorate (IAD). CSfC is the acronym for the IAD’s Commercial Solutions for Classified program. It’s worth noting…

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

New FIPS 140-2 IG Update Released: What You Need to Know

In our recent post we talked about the recent changes to Common Criteria, FIPS, and UC APL, and the importance of putting these changes in context for your business. Today we have another change to tell you about. On July 25, CMVP issued an update to the FIPS 140-2 Implementation Guidance(IG). No matter where your module is in the…

FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

Hot Topics for ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27’s WG 3: Q & A with Miguel Bañón

Last week, I shared a conversation I had with Miguel Bañón, Convenor of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27’s WG 3 (work group 3), that offered an overview of the current work of the WG 3, as well as some great insight into planned changes in the areas of evaluation, testing and specification for the IT security industry. Today, we’ll…

FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

But the Rules are Changing!

According to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, “There is nothing permanent except change.” As anyone following security certifications lately can tell you, there is a lot of truth in this statement. We have entered another …

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FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

The True Cost of FIPS 140-2 Validation

The benefits of getting FIPS 140-2 validation for your product shouldn’t be underestimated. Your FIPS 140-2 validation demonstrates your integrity and commitment to providing your customers with compliant security products and systems. But the validation process can be time consuming, complex and is an investment not to be taken lightly. So, while planning…

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

The FIPS Standard: Do I Revalidate?

In our recent blog post, we talked about the cost and timing you can expect if you pursue FIPS 140-2 revalidation for your product or system. We also touched on five change scenarios that necessitate revalidation. These scenarios were created by the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP), the same body that published the FIPS standard, which covers…

Watch A Webinar by Corsec

Webinar Recap: Should You Revalidate or Recertify?

If you have been through the certification or validation process for your security product, I don’t need to tell you that it’s a substantial investment in time, resources and cost. Or that it’s worth that investment when you consider the benefits you’ll realize from your ability to sell into the lucrative government market. We discussed…

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Budgeting for Certifications: Avoid Cost Creep

Budgeting for a Common Criteria Certification can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Understanding how to create your certification budget, and taking the necessary steps to follow through with that budget, can reduce your costs and simplify the certification process. We are frequently asked, “How much does certification cost…

FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

Starting a Validation—Don’t Make All of Your Decisions up Front

A security validation is a substantial process—getting it started can be daunting. But you don’t need to decide everything up front—in fact, you shouldn’t. There are definitely some important considerations to work through, but there are some decisions you should put off until you are well into the process.

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FIPS 140, CSfC, Common Criteria, UC APL

Is There Value in Maintaining Your Security Validation?

Once you have spent the time and money to pursue a security validation, you’re all done, right? Well, not exactly. However, the good news is that it isn’t hard or expensive to maintain your validation.

For most security validations, the validation applies to a specific version of hardware and software. At the beginning of your evaluation you must choose which versions of your product you are taking through the validation process. 

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FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

What You Need to Know about FIPS 140-2, OpenSSL, and the new IG Requirement

You may have heard about the new interpretation of the mandatory requirement in Section 9.5 of the Implementation Guidance (IG) document, a key component of FIPS 140-2 documentation issued by the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP). This interpretation is causing conflicts with the architecture of the OpenSSL validations and how OpenSSL’s validation applies to customers using their software.

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FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

FIPS 140-2 Validated: Top 10 Myths

If you’re thinking about pursuing FIPS 140-2 validation for your system or component, you know the benefits that validation provides. But along with the considerable perks you’ve heard about, there is lots of erroneous information floating around. Unless you do your homework, you may fall into a minefield or two that could result in major setbacks in time and cost.

FIPS 140-2, FIPS 140-2 validation, FIPS Validation, FIPS 140-2 process, FIPS Inside, FIPS Compliant

Which FIPS Validation Is Right? 140-2 or 140-3?

This is a very frequently asked question, and we have been fielding questions from clients on how to deal with FIPS 140-3 for years now. But, for years the advice has uniformly been: “Don’t worry about FIPS 140-3; you only need to deal with FIPS 140-2 right now.” But that’s a very unsatisfying answer, especially when there have been folks actively proclaiming “Woe betide ye