808bits

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

FIPS 140-2 certificate #2148 · nCipher Security Limited · data as of 2026-08-28
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 number2148
StandardFIPS 140-2
Statushistorical
Overall level3
Module typeHardware
EmbodimentMulti-chip embedded
VendornCipher Security Limited · website
Hardware versionsnC4033E-010 [1], nC4433E-500 [2], nC4433E-6K0 [3], nC4433E-500N [4], nC4433E-1K5N [5] and nC4433E-6K0N [6], Build Standard N
Firmware versions2.51.10-3 and 2.55.1-3

Module description

The nShield modules: nShield F3 10+, nShield F3 500+, nShield F3 6000+, nShield F3 500+ for nShield Connect+, nShield F3 1500+ for nShield Connect+ and nShield F3 6000+ 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.

Security level exceptions

  • Mitigation of Other Attacks: N/A

Approved algorithms

AlgorithmCAVP certificate
AES2122
CVL27, 90
DRBG232
DSA664, 777
ECDSA181, 318
HMAC1292
RSA1092, 1299
SHS1844
Triple-DES1349
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. #2122, key wrapping; key establishment methodology provides between 128 and 256 bits of encryption strength); Triple-DES (Cert. #1349, key wrapping; key establishment methodology provides 112 bits of encryption strength; 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 Certs. #27 and #90, key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); EC Diffie-Hellman (CVL Certs. #27 and #90, key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); ECMQV (key agreement; key establishment methodology provides between 112 and 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength)

Validation history

DateTypeLab
2014-05-13InitialDXC Technology
2015-11-24UpdateDXC 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: 2014-05-13, 2015-11-24, 2020-01-29

Source documents