FIPS 140-3 Validation for Mobile Apps
FIPS 140-3 is the U.S. government’s cryptographic module standard. It is required for product procurement in federal, defense, and many regulated sectors, and it underpins compliance frameworks like FedRAMP, CMMC, and Common Criteria.
Any vendor selling security software to US federal agencies or organizations operating in regulated sectors must ensure that cryptographic modules are FIPS 140-validated.
iOS / Android FIPS 140 Compliance vs. Validation: What’s the Difference?
Many people assume these are synonyms. With FIPS, they are not. In fact, there is a huge difference between them.
FIPS 140-Validated means your company's cryptography module has passed a formal testing process with a NIST-approved lab.
FIPS 140-Compliant means your company has received a certificate in its name from NIST that verifies your module has been validated.
Some claim that using another company’s certified module constitutes 'FIPS compliant’(which is called by some 'FIPS inside'). But compliance is not always good enough. Compliant today may also not be compliant tomorrow if someone else’s module goes out of compliance (e.g., goes historical). Historical certificates cannot be used for new government acquisitions.
Also, government procurement agents may block acquisition of products that do not have FIPS certification in their own name listed in NIST's validated modules database.
Why FIPS 140-3 Mobile Validation is the Safer, Smarter Path
For an organization serious about serving the public sector or regulated markets, having your own CMVP certificate confirms:
- Visibility in federal procurement processes
- Compliance with layered frameworks like FedRAMP, CMMC, and Common Criteria
- Long-term control over updates and maintenance
CryptoComply Mobile gives you a direct path to your own certificate, without the complexity and delays of a traditional validation process. SafeLogic handles the lifecycle, so you stay secure, validated, and ready for government opportunities.
