FIPS 140-3
Encyclopedia
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS
) Publication 140-3 (Draft), FIPS PUB 140-3, is a U.S.
government computer security
standard
used to accredit cryptographic
modules. The title is Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules. The publication is still in draft and has not been officially issued.
FIPS 140-3 (Draft) is the proposed revision of FIPS 140-2
. The draft specifies five security levels instead of the four found in FIPS 140-2; has a separate section for software security; requires mitigation of non-invasive attacks when validating at higher security levels; introduces the concept of public security parameters; allows the deference of certain self-tests until specific conditions are met; and strengthens the requirements on user authentication and integrity testing.
(NIST) issued the FIPS 140
Publication Series to coordinate the requirements and standards for cryptography modules that include both hardware and software components. Federal agencies and departments can validate that the module in use is covered by an existing FIPS 140-2
certificate that specifies the exact module name, hardware, software, firmware, and/or applet version numbers. The cryptographic modules are produced by the private sector
or open source
communities for use by the U.S. government and other regulated industries (such as financial and health-care institutions) that collect, store, transfer, share and disseminate sensitive but unclassified
(SBU) information. A commercial cryptographic module is also commonly referred to as a Hardware Security Module
.
(CMVP) as a joint effort by the NIST and the Communications Security Establishment
(CSE) for the Canadian
government.
Security programs overseen by NIST and CSE focus on working with government and industry to establish more secure systems and networks by developing, managing and promoting security assessment tools, techniques, services, and supporting programs for testing, evaluation and validation; and addresses such areas as: development and maintenance of security metrics, security evaluation criteria and evaluation methodologies, tests and test methods; security-specific criteria for laboratory accreditation; guidance on the use of evaluated and tested products; research to address assurance methods and system-wide security and assessment methodologies; security protocol validation activities; and appropriate coordination with assessment-related activities of voluntary industry standards bodies and other assessment regimes.
Federal Information Processing Standard
A Federal Information Processing Standard is a publicly announced standardization developed by the United States federal government for use in computer systems by all non-military government agencies and by government contractors, when properly invoked and tailored on a contract...
) Publication 140-3 (Draft), FIPS PUB 140-3, is a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government computer security
Computer security
Computer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks. The objective of computer security includes protection of information and property from theft, corruption, or natural disaster, while allowing the information and property to...
standard
Standardization
Standardization is the process of developing and implementing technical standards.The goals of standardization can be to help with independence of single suppliers , compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality....
used to accredit cryptographic
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
modules. The title is Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules. The publication is still in draft and has not been officially issued.
FIPS 140-3 (Draft) is the proposed revision of FIPS 140-2
FIPS 140-2
The Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 140-2, , is a U.S. government computer security standard used to accredit cryptographic modules. The title is Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules...
. The draft specifies five security levels instead of the four found in FIPS 140-2; has a separate section for software security; requires mitigation of non-invasive attacks when validating at higher security levels; introduces the concept of public security parameters; allows the deference of certain self-tests until specific conditions are met; and strengthens the requirements on user authentication and integrity testing.
Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and TechnologyNational Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
(NIST) issued the FIPS 140
FIPS 140
The 140 series of Federal Information Processing Standards are U.S. government computer security standards that specify requirements for cryptography modules...
Publication Series to coordinate the requirements and standards for cryptography modules that include both hardware and software components. Federal agencies and departments can validate that the module in use is covered by an existing FIPS 140-2
FIPS 140-2
The Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 140-2, , is a U.S. government computer security standard used to accredit cryptographic modules. The title is Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules...
certificate that specifies the exact module name, hardware, software, firmware, and/or applet version numbers. The cryptographic modules are produced by the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
or open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
communities for use by the U.S. government and other regulated industries (such as financial and health-care institutions) that collect, store, transfer, share and disseminate sensitive but unclassified
Sensitive but unclassified
Sensitive But Unclassified is a designation of information in the United States federal government that, though unclassified, often requires strict controls over its distribution...
(SBU) information. A commercial cryptographic module is also commonly referred to as a Hardware Security Module
Hardware Security Module
A hardware security module is a type of secure cryptoprocessor targeted at managing digital keys, accelerating cryptoprocesses in terms of digital signings/second and for providing strong authentication to access critical keys for server applications...
.
Cryptographic Module Validation Program
FIPS 140-2 establishes the Cryptographic Module Validation ProgramCMVP
The Cryptographic Module Validation Program is a joint American and Canadian security accreditation program for cryptographic modules. The program is available to any vendors who seek to have their products certified for use by the U.S...
(CMVP) as a joint effort by the NIST and the Communications Security Establishment
Communications Security Establishment
The Communications Security Establishment Canada is the Canadian government's national cryptologic agency. Administered under the Department of National Defence , it is charged with the duty of keeping track of foreign signals intelligence , and protecting Canadian government electronic...
(CSE) for the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
government.
Security programs overseen by NIST and CSE focus on working with government and industry to establish more secure systems and networks by developing, managing and promoting security assessment tools, techniques, services, and supporting programs for testing, evaluation and validation; and addresses such areas as: development and maintenance of security metrics, security evaluation criteria and evaluation methodologies, tests and test methods; security-specific criteria for laboratory accreditation; guidance on the use of evaluated and tested products; research to address assurance methods and system-wide security and assessment methodologies; security protocol validation activities; and appropriate coordination with assessment-related activities of voluntary industry standards bodies and other assessment regimes.
External references
- NIST Computer Security Resource Center
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) website
- Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) website
- Cryptographic Module Testing laboratories
- National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)