What is FIPS?

What is FIPS?

FIPS stands for Federal Information Processing Standards. These are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. federal government to ensure that computer systems and data used by federal agencies meet specific security and interoperability requirements.

In simple terms:

FIPS defines how sensitive government data must be protected — especially when it comes to encryption and cybersecurity.

Key things to know:

• FIPS 140-2 (and now 140-3) is the most well-known FIPS standard. It sets the requirements for cryptographic modules (like those used in VPNs, secure apps, etc.).
• Vendors must have their products FIPS-validated to sell to U.S. federal agencies (and often in highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare).
• FIPS compliance usually means using strong, government-approved encryption algorithms and configurations.
• You don’t have to be a government agency to follow FIPS — many private companies do so to meet customer or industry requirements.

FIPS is about using encryption and security technologies that meet U.S. government standards — especially in environments handling sensitive data.

Enabling FIPS mode on a system or application means it will only use cryptographic algorithms and methods that are approved under the FIPS 140-2 or 140-3 standards — and it will block or disable any that are not compliant.

What happens when you enable FIPS?

1. Stronger, vetted encryption only
   • The system will use FIPS-validated algorithms like AES, SHA-256, RSA, etc.
   • Non-compliant or weaker algorithms (like MD5 or RC4) are disabled.

2. Tighter security policies

1. • Libraries like OpenSSL, Windows CryptoAPI, or Java may switch to FIPS-compliant modes.
   • Applications relying on those libraries must also comply — or they might break if they use non-approved methods.

3. Compliance support

1. • Enabling FIPS mode helps meet government and regulatory requirements, especially in federal, defense, finance, or healthcare sectors.

4. Possible functionality limitations

1. • Some software features or plugins may not work if they rely on non-FIPS-approved crypto.
   • Debugging, performance testing, or legacy integrations might be impacted.

Enabling FIPS forces your system to use government-approved encryption — boosting security and compliance, but possibly limiting compatibility.

What are the benefits of FIPS?

Here are the key benefits of FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) — especially when it comes to cybersecurity and compliance:

1. Government & Industry Compliance

• FIPS is a requirement for U.S. federal agencies and contractors handling sensitive data.
• It helps organizations meet regulatory standards like:
  • FedRAMP
  • HIPAA
  • CJIS
  • FISMA
  • PCI DSS (in some contexts)

2. Strong, Trusted Encryption

• FIPS only allows validated cryptographic algorithms that have been rigorously tested.
• This reduces the risk of using weak, outdated, or broken encryption methods (like MD5 or RC4).

3. Independently Tested Security

• FIPS validation means a product’s cryptographic modules have been evaluated by an accredited lab, not just claimed to be secure by the vendor.
• It provides third-party assurance of your encryption practices.

4. Enhanced Data Protection

• Helps protect data at rest and in transit, especially in high-risk environments.
• Essential for securing communications, authentication, and file storage in sensitive systems.

5. Increased Trust in Enterprise Environments

• FIPS compliance is often a competitive advantage when working with government agencies or large enterprises.
• It signals a commitment to security best practices.

FIPS boosts security, ensures compliance, and builds trust — especially in regulated or high-security environments.

What operating systems support FIPS?

Most major operating systems support FIPS mode, especially those used in government, defense, or other regulated industries.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Windows

• Supported: Yes
• FIPS Mode: Can be enabled via Group Policy or registry settings
• Applies To: Windows Server, Windows 10/11 (Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions)
• Uses: Windows Cryptographic Providers in FIPS-approved mode

 Microsoft FIPS 140 Validations

 Linux

• Supported: Yes (depending on distro)
• FIPS Mode: Enabled at boot or via kernel modules
• Popular Distros with FIPS Support:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) – Official FIPS-certified packages
  • CentOS / AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux – Derivatives of RHEL, can follow same steps
  • Ubuntu – Offers FIPS-certified versions (Ubuntu Advantage subscription required)

macOS

• Supported: Partially
• FIPS-Certified Modules: Some Apple cryptographic libraries are FIPS validated, but macOS does not offer a system-wide “FIPS mode”
• Use case: May be acceptable in some regulated environments with third-party FIPS-certified tools

Mobile OS

• iOS: Uses FIPS-validated crypto modules in certain versions for government use
• Android: Some Android devices (especially enterprise/government models) ship with or support FIPS-certified libraries

TL;DR:

• Windows, RHEL-based Linux distros, and some enterprise Ubuntu builds fully support FIPS mode
• macOS and mobile OSs support FIPS-validated modules, but not full system FIPS mode