Addressing FIPS compliance: Federal requirements for AI security and data protection

In today's digital world, where data breaches and cyber threats are commonplace, government agencies and their partners must comply with regulatory requirements when handling sensitive information such as Controlled Classified Information (CUI) — especially when this data is used to train AI models. Using Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) cryptographic endpoints is the mandated means of securing sensitive data. FIPS compliance helps safeguard federal data integrity and confidentiality by providing one line of defense against malicious actors. Domino Cloud now offers federal government agencies a FIPS-certified solution so they can provide security assurance and comply with FIPS requirements. Learn more about Domino security.

What are FIPS?

FIPS refer to hardware or software components that adhere to the standards set forth by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in its publications. These standards mainly apply to government agencies, and are designed to ensure the security and interoperability of computer systems used by the U.S. federal government and its contractors. FIPS encompasses a wide range of devices and applications, including cryptographic modules, secure network appliances, secure network endpoints, and endpoint security solutions.

As part of Domino’s plans to achieve FedRAMP High Authorization for the Domino Cloud platform, Domino Cloud is now FIPS certified as of the 5.11 release. Domino also publishes guides for customers with self-managed Domino deployments, to become FIPS compliant.

Federal customers can meet FIPS and compliance requirements

1. Government security standards: FIPS-compliant solutions adhere to rigorous security standards established by NIST. These standards cover various security aspects, including encryption algorithms, key management, authentication mechanisms, and secure protocols. FIPS adherence helps agencies enhance their security posture and mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
   
2. Protection of sensitive data: FIPS-compliant solutions employ robust encryption techniques to protect sensitive data both at rest and in transit. By encrypting data using validated cryptographic algorithms, organizations can safeguard confidential information from eavesdropping and unauthorized interception. This is particularly critical in industries such as life sciences, finance, and public sector, where protecting personal and classified information is paramount.
3. Interoperability and compatibility: FIPS-compliant solutions can ensure interoperability and compatibility with other compliant federal systems and components. This allows agencies and their vendors to seamlessly integrate FIPS into their existing infrastructure for compliance. Whether deploying cryptographic modules for secure communications or malware detection, FIPS compliance facilitates smooth integration and interoperability across diverse environments.
4. Regulatory compliance: Many customers are subject to regulatory requirements mandating the use of FIPS-compliant security solutions. For example, federal agencies, healthcare organizations governed by HIPAA, and financial institutions under PCI DSS must adhere to FIPS standards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data.
5. Trust and assurance: FIPS certification provides organizations and the government with assurance that rigorous testing and validation processes have been conducted by accredited laboratories. Added trust is conferred on FIPS-certified systems where data security and privacy are critical concerns, such as protecting sensitive data, and fostering confidence in AI models developed using protected data.

Conclusion

FIPS compliant solutions help regulated agencies that rely on sensitive data to train AI models pursue FedRAMP authorizations or operate in air-gapped clouds like AWS GovCloud (US). By complying with FIPS, agencies can ensure interoperability, and facilitate regulatory compliance. For more details, check out Domino’s AI security and compliance page.