nCipher 1600 PCI, nCipher 1600 PCI for NetHSM, and nCipher 800 PCI
nCipher 1600 PCI, nCipher 1600 PCI for NetHSM, and nCipher 800 PCI, from nCipher Corporation Ltd., holds FIPS 140-2 certificate #681 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.
Certificate
| Certificate number | 681 |
|---|---|
| Standard | FIPS 140-2 |
| Status | historical |
| Overall level | 2 |
| Module type | Hardware |
| Embodiment | Multi-chip embedded |
| Vendor | nCipher Corporation Ltd. · website |
| Hardware versions | nC3033P-1K6, nC3033P-1K6N and nC3033P-800 Build Standard C |
| Firmware versions | 2.22.6-2 |
Module description
Quoted from the NIST CMVP entry for this certificate.
The nCipher modules: nCipher 1600 PCI, nCipher 1600 PCI for NetHSM, nCipher 800 PCI family of secure e-commerce HSM's are multi-tasking hardware modules that is optimized for performing modular arithmetic on very large integers. The nCipher modules are FIPS 140-2 level 2 embedded devices. The units are identical in operation and only vary in the processing speed.
Security level exceptions
- Roles, Services, and Authentication: Level 3
- Physical Security: Level 3
- EMI/EMC: Level 3
- Design Assurance: Level 3
Approved algorithms (9)
| Algorithm | CAVP certificates |
|---|---|
| AES | 258 |
| DSA | 136 |
| ECDSA | 2 |
| HMAC | 68 |
| RNG | 91 |
| RSA | 68 |
| SHS | 333 |
| Triple-DES | 339 |
| Triple-DES MAC | vendor affirmed |
Other algorithms
ARC FOUR; CAST5; CAST 6; DES (non compliant); DES MAC (non compliant); MD2; MD5; SEED; HMAC (MD2, MD5, and RIPEMD160); RIPEMD 160; El-Gamal; Blowfish; Twofish; Serpent; KCDSA; HSA 160; Diffie-Hellman (key agreement, key establishment methodology provides 112 bits to 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength); EC Diffie-Hellman (key agreement, key establishment methodology provides 192-bits of encryption strength); RSA (key wrapping, key establishment methodology provides 112 bits to 256 bits of encryption strength; non-compliant less than 112 bits of encryption strength)
Validation history
| Date | Type | Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-06-19 | Initial | DOMUS |
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: 2006-06-19