FIPS Cryptographic Standards

This question asks if all the encryption technology used in the vendor's solution meets federal government standards (FIPS 140-2 or 140-3). These standards ensure the encryption is strong enough to protect sensitive data and hasn't been compromised. It's like ensuring all locks in a building meet certified security standards rather than using cheap, easily picked locks.

Non-FIPS encryption may be weak, backdoored, or non-compliant with government and industry requirements. FIPS compliance is mandatory for federal contracts and many regulated industries. Using non-compliant encryption can disqualify you from major contracts, create compliance violations, and leave data vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. This directly impacts your market opportunities and security posture.

Vendors often claim 'strong encryption' without specifying FIPS compliance, or they use FIPS algorithms but implement them incorrectly. Another mistake is having FIPS encryption in some components but not others, creating weak points in the security chain.