USB Storage Encryption Management

Storage

Feedsee Storage : USB Storage Encryption Management : FIPS 140-2 Level 1 certified storage solution for USB devices

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are a set of standards that describe document processing, encryption algorithms, and other information technology standards for use within non-military government agencies and by government contractors and vendors who work with the agencies.

In 2007, RedCannon Security's KeyPoint Vault system was the first portable USB software storage solution to gain approval from the GSA for Federal Information Processing Standards 140-2 Level 1. The certification assured that the encryption and deletion of files in the system was certified to perform at the highest level. KeyPoint Vault combined the power of standards-based, military-grade software encryption and storage with centralized management to ensure that privacy was maintained by automatically encrypting all files and locking out compromised devices. End-users could stay productive in the field, assured that the data they carry would not be compromised. The system enabled the convenience of mobile storage while maintaining control and ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Main components of FIPS

  1. FIPS 140: This is probably the best-known FIPS standard, which involves security requirements for cryptographic modules. FIPS 140-2 is the version currently in use, but a transition to FIPS 140-3 has begun.
  2. FIPS 197: This specifies the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is a symmetric block cipher chosen by the U.S. government to protect classified information.
  3. FIPS 199: This standard is for categorizing information and information systems, which helps agencies to appropriately apply other FIPS and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standards.
  4. FIPS 200: This mandates the minimum security requirements for federal information and information systems.
  5. FIPS 201: It specifies Personal Identity Verification (PIV) for Federal Employees and Contractors.
  6. FIPS 202: It specifies the SHA-3 (Secure Hash Algorithm 3) standard, a cryptographic hash function.

The main goal of FIPS is to standardize the use of IT and data within the federal government to ensure that systems can communicate and that data remains secure. While these standards technically apply only to federal agencies and certain contractors, they're often seen as best practices and are widely used in the private sector as well, particularly in regulated industries like healthcare and finance.