Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)

The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are a set of guidelines developed by the U.S. government to ensure the security and consistency of sensitive data handling and technology systems. They specify methods, policies, and procedures to protect government information and support interoperability across agencies. FIPS standards cover areas like encryption, data formats, and security protocols, helping to promote trust and uniformity in digital systems used by government entities. Think of FIPS as a standardized blueprint that ensures cybersecurity practices are reliable, consistent, and meet national requirements.