nShield 5 certifications

The nShield 5s is fully validated to FIPS 140-3 Level 3, FIPS cert. 4745. nShield XC has FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validation and will not be submitted for FIPS 140-3.

FIPS 140-3 is the latest revision of the FIPS 140 standard. It was made effective by NIST in September 2019 and accepted for new FIPS submissions one year later, in September 2020. All FIPS 140-2 certificates will be sunset and placed on the Historical list after September 22nd, 2026.

FIPS Level 3 mode and restrictions

The FIPS Level 3 mode in nShield 5 is equivalent to nShield XC. A FIPS Security World v3 created on nShield XC v12.50 or v12.72 validated firmware is fully compatible with the new FIPS 140-3 validated firmware 13.2 and 13.4 on nShield 5s.

The nShield 5s is certified to Common Criteria EAL4 + AVA_VAN.5, ALC_FLR.2 using the Protection Profile EN 419 221-5, see the certification document. It also achieved QSCD status, relevant for the eIDAS regulation. This certification is equivalent to nShield XC.