808bits

nShield F2 PCI and nShield F2 Ultrasign PCI

FIPS 140-2 certificate #529 · nCipher Corporation Ltd. · data as of 2026-10-21

nShield F2 PCI and nShield F2 Ultrasign PCI, from nCipher Corporation Ltd., holds FIPS 140-2 certificate #529 at overall level 2. 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. RNG SP800-131A Revision 1 Transition. 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 2 per Security Policy

Certificate

Certificate number529
StandardFIPS 140-2
Statushistorical
Overall level2
Module typeHardware
EmbodimentMulti-chip embedded
VendornCipher Corporation Ltd. · website
Hardware versionsnC4022P-150 and nC4022P-300 Build Standard ER
Firmware versions2.18.15-2

Module description

Quoted from the NIST CMVP entry for this certificate.

The nCipher nShield range of Hardware Security Modules improves the security of cryptographic keys, security sensitive software applications and increases server throughput of secure transactions in Public Key Infrastructure and other high integrity applications such as: Certificate Authorities, Registration Authorities, Government and Financial Institutions.

Security level exceptions

  • Cryptographic Module Ports and Interfaces: Level 3
  • Roles, Services, and Authentication: Level 3
  • Physical Security: Level 3
  • Cryptographic Key Management: Level 3
  • Design Assurance: Level 3

Approved algorithms (8)

AlgorithmCAVP certificates
AES15
DSA113
HMAC3
RNG20
RSA16
SHS255
Triple-DES34
Triple-DES MACvendor affirmed

Other algorithms

DES (Cert. #24); DES MAC (Cert. #24, vendor affirmed); ARC FOUR; CAST5; CAST 6; MD2; MD5; RIPEMD 160; SEED; HMAC (MD2, MD5, and RIPEMD160); El-Gamal; Diffie-Hellman (key agreement); Blowfish; Twofish; Serpent; KCDSA; HSA 160

Validation history

DateTypeLab
2005-05-10InitialDOMUS
2006-03-09Update
2006-03-15Update

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: 2005-05-10, 2006-03-09, 2006-03-15

Source documents