nShield SCSI Ultrasign and nShield SCSI Cryptographic Accelerators
nShield SCSI Ultrasign and nShield SCSI Cryptographic Accelerators, from nCipher Corporation Ltd., holds FIPS 140-1 certificate #129 at overall level 3. The validation is historical: agencies may keep the module in existing systems but not buy it new. Below are its validation history, algorithm certificates and security policy, drawn from the NIST CMVP entry.
Caveat: When operated in FIPS mode
Certificate
| Certificate number | 129 |
|---|---|
| Standard | FIPS 140-1 |
| Status | historical |
| Overall level | 3 |
| Module type | Hardware |
| Embodiment | Multi-chip standalone |
| Vendor | nCipher Corporation Ltd. · website |
| Hardware versions | nC4032W-400, 150 |
| Firmware versions | v1.77.100 |
Module description
Quoted from the NIST CMVP entry for this certificate.
The nCipher nShield range of tamper resistent Hardware Security Modules improves the security of cryptographic keys and increases server throughput for digital signature and encryption applications. Supporting many commercial public key infrastructure (PKI) products such as certificate authorities and on-line validation servers, the nShield family of HSMs is also used for building custom security applications requiring secure and flexible key management.
Security level exceptions
- Roles and Services: Level 3*
- Self Tests: Level 3*
- Key Management: Level 3*
- *(Level 3 is met in these areas when the "FIPS_level3" flag is set during initialization.)
Approved algorithms (3)
| Algorithm | CAVP certificates |
|---|---|
| DSA/SHA-1 | |
| Triple-DES | |
| Triple-DES MAC; RSA | vendor affirmed |
Other algorithms
DES (Cert. #24); DES MAC; CAST5; HMAC (MD2, MD5, SHA-1 and RIPEMD160); ElGamal; Diffie-Hellman (key agreement)
Validation history
| Date | Type | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-12-20 | Initial | DOMUS |
| 2001-09-14 | Update | |
| 2006-03-09 | Update | |
| 2006-03-15 | Update |
Status timeline
As observed by this tracker's snapshots. NIST publishes no dates for list moves; observation began 2026-08-21, so earlier changes carry no date.
- 2026-08-21: first observed by this tracker, status historical
- Validation dates on record: 2000-12-20, 2001-09-14, 2006-03-09, 2006-03-15