808bits

nShield F3 6000e [1], nShield F3 1500e [2], nShield F3 500e [3], nShield F3 10e [4], nShield F3 6000e for nShield Connect [5], nShield F3 1500e for nShield Connect [6] and nShield F3 500e for nShield Connect [7]

FIPS 140-2 certificate #1742 · nCipher Security Limited · data as of 2026-10-21

nShield F3 6000e [1], nShield F3 1500e [2], nShield F3 500e [3], nShield F3 10e [4], nShield F3 6000e for nShield Connect [5], nShield F3 1500e for nShield Connect [6] and nShield F3 500e for nShield Connect [7], from nCipher Security Limited, holds FIPS 140-2 certificate #1742 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.

Historical. Moved to historical list in accordance with SP800-131A Revision 1 Transition (AES/TDES key wrapping). Federal agencies may reference historical validations for existing systems only, not for new procurement.
Caveat: When operated in FIPS mode and initialized to Overall Level 3 per Security Policy

Certificate

Certificate number1742
StandardFIPS 140-2
Statushistorical
Overall level3
Module typeHardware
EmbodimentMulti-chip embedded
VendornCipher Security Limited · website
Hardware versionsnC4033E-6K0 [1], nC4033E-1K5 [2], nC4033E-500 [3], nC4033E-030 [4], nC4033E-6K0N [5], nC4033E-1K5N [6] and nC4033E-500N [7], Build Standard N
Firmware versions2.50.16-3, 2.51.10-3, 2.50.35-3 and 2.55.1-3

Module description

Quoted from the NIST CMVP entry for this certificate.

The nShield modules: nShield F3 6000e, nShield F3 1500e, nShield F3 500e, nShield F3 10e, nShield F3 6000e for nShield Connect, nShield F3 1500e for nShield Connect and nShield F3 500e for nShield Connect family of secure e-commerce HSMs are multi-tasking hardware modules that are optimized for performing modular arithmetic on very large integers. The nShield modules are FIPS 140-2 level 3 embedded devices. The units are identical in operation and only vary in the processing speed.

Approved algorithms (10)

AlgorithmCAVP certificates
AES397, 1579
CVL1
DRBG72
DSA487
ECDSA192
HMAC925
RSA770, 1092
SHS1398
Triple-DES435, 1035
Triple-DES MACvendor affirmed

Other algorithms

ARC4; Aria; Camellia; CAST-6; DES; MD5; SEED; HMAC-MD5; HMAC-Tiger; HMAC-RIPEMD160; RIPEMD-160; Tiger; El-Gamal; KCDSA; HAS-160; AES (Cert. #1579, key wrapping; key establishment methodology provides between 128 and 256 bits of encryption strength); Triple-DES (Cert. #1035, key wrapping; key establishment methodology provides 112 bits of encryption strengh; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); RSA (key wrapping; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); Diffie-Hellman (CVL Cert. #1, key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strengh; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); EC Diffie-Hellman (CVL Cert. #1, key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strengh; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); ECMQV (key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strengh; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength)

Validation history

DateTypeLab
2012-06-25InitialDXC Technology
2013-03-08UpdateDXC Technology
2013-08-16UpdateDXC Technology
2015-11-16UpdateDXC Technology
2020-01-29UpdateLightship Security, Inc.

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: 2012-06-25, 2013-03-08, 2013-08-16, 2015-11-16, 2020-01-29

Source documents