808bits

nShield Solo XC F3 [1] and nShield Solo XC F3 for nShield Connect XC [2]

FIPS 140-2 certificate #2941 · nCipher Security Limited · data as of 2026-10-21

nShield Solo XC F3 [1] and nShield Solo XC F3 for nShield Connect XC [2], from nCipher Security Limited, holds FIPS 140-2 certificate #2941 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. 186-2 transition. Federal agencies may reference historical validations for existing systems only, not for new procurement.
Caveat: When installed, initialized and configured as specified in Section 5.2.3 of the Security Policy. The module generates cryptographic keys whose strengths are modified by available entropy

Certificate

Certificate number2941
StandardFIPS 140-2
Statushistorical
Overall level3
Module typeHardware
EmbodimentMulti-Chip Embedded
VendornCipher Security Limited · website
Hardware versionsNC4035E-000 [1] and NC4335N-000 [2], Build Standard A
Firmware versions3.3.21, 3.4.1, and 3.4.2

Module description

Quoted from the NIST CMVP entry for this certificate.

The nShield XC F3 PCIe card, sold as nShield XC F3 PCIe server-embedded hardware security modules (HSMs) and also used in the nShield Connect XC network appliance HSMs, are multi-tasking HSMs optimized for symmetric and asymmetric operations on protected keys. The nShield modules are FIPS 140-2 Level 3 embedded devices for applications including but not limited to PKI, SSL/TLS, Secure Manufacturing, Data Protection, Key Management and Provisioning.

Security level exceptions

  • Mitigation of Other Attacks: N/A

Approved algorithms (12)

AlgorithmCAVP certificates
AES3664, 3697, 3711
CVL669, 682, 696, 1111
DRBG985
DSA1034, 1039
ECDSA771, 776, 790, 805
HMAC2414
KBKDF73, 75
KTS
PBKDFvendor affirmed
RSA1897, 1903, 1917
SHS3082, 3130
Triple-DES2046, 2073

Other algorithms

NDRNG

Tested configurations

  • N/A

Validation history

DateTypeLab
2017-06-23InitialDXC Technology
2017-11-07UpdateDXC Technology
2018-08-07UpdateDXC Technology
2019-06-03UpdateDXC Technology

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: 2017-06-23, 2017-11-07, 2018-08-07, 2019-06-03

Source documents