Do all cryptographic modules in use in your solution conform to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS PUB 140-2 or 140-3)?

This question is asking whether all cryptographic modules (software or hardware components that implement cryptographic functions like encryption, decryption, digital signatures, etc.) used in your solution comply with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) Publication 140-2 or 140-3. FIPS 140-2/140-3 are U.S. government security standards that specify requirements for cryptographic modules. These standards ensure that cryptographic tools meet minimum security requirements and have been properly tested and validated. FIPS 140-2 was the standard until 2019 when FIPS 140-3 was introduced as its replacement, though many validated modules still reference 140-2. Why this is asked in security assessments: 1. Regulatory compliance: Many regulated industries (healthcare, finance, government) require FIPS-validated cryptography 2. Security assurance: FIPS validation provides independent verification that cryptographic implementations are secure 3. Risk management: Using validated cryptography reduces the risk of weak encryption implementations To best answer this question: - Inventory all cryptographic modules in your solution (encryption libraries, HSMs, secure elements, etc.) - Verify if they have FIPS 140-2 or 140-3 validation certificates - If using third-party services, check if they use FIPS-validated cryptography - Be honest about any non-FIPS compliant components, explaining compensating controls if applicable - Include validation certificate numbers when possible for verification