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Federal Information Processing Standards

September 16, 2024

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Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) is a set of standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the use of Defence, Federal, and State Government organizations. The FIPS systems provide security, compliance, interoperability, and best practices. In the financial services industry, FIPS compliance is essential for protecting sensitive customer information and ensuring the integrity of financial transactions. In the healthcare industry, FIPS compliance is critical for safeguarding patient data and ensuring the privacy of medical records. By implementing FIPS standards, financial services and healthcare organizations can enhance their security posture, reduce the risk of data breaches, and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.

FIPS employs a secure cryptographic module as a core component to ensure data protection.There are standards that define the security requirements for cryptographic modules. FIPS 140-2 and FIPS 140-3 define the stringent security requirements for cryptographic modules, comprising algorithm selection, key management procedures, access controls, physical security measures, and operational environment specifications. These modules, which are the core components ensuring data protection within FIPS, can be implemented at various security levels depending on the intended use case and the organization’s specific security needs.

The security levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Provides a foundational level of security, ensuring the correct implementation of cryptographic algorithms.
Level 2: Builds upon Level 1 by incorporating tamper-evident mechanisms to detect unauthorized physical access or modifications.
Level 3: Focuses on preventing physical tampering through robust protective measures, making it significantly more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Level 4: Offers the highest level of security, employing sophisticated countermeasures to protect against highly skilled and well-equipped adversaries.

NetScaler FIPS compliance levels are as follows:

NetScaler VPX: NetScaler VPX, a software-based virtual system, typically achieves FIPS Level 1 compliance for both FIPS 140-2/FIPS-140-3.
NetScaler MPX: NetScaler MPX, due to its hardware-based security measures, can achieve FIPS 140-2/FIPS 140-3 Level 2. This is because the physical security mechanisms inherent in hardware devices offer a higher degree of tamper resistance and protection against unauthorized access, aligning with the more stringent requirements of Level 2.

For more information about the NetScaler specific FIPS appliances, see VPX FIPS appliances and MPX FIPS appliances.

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Federal Information Processing Standards

September 16, 2024

Contributed by:

September 16, 2024

Contributed by:

Federal Information Processing Standards

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