AOS must use FIPS 140-2/140-3 approved algorithms for authentication to a cryptographic module.

Unapproved mechanisms that are used for authentication to the cryptographic module are not validated and therefore cannot be relied on to provide confidentiality or integrity, and DoW data may be compromised.

Network devices using encryption are required to use FIPS-compliant mechanisms for authenticating to cryptographic modules.

FIPS 140-2/140-3 is the current standard for validating that mechanisms used to access cryptographic modules use authentication that meets DoW requirements. However, authentication algorithms must configure security processes to use only authentication algorithms that are FIPS-approved and recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Satisfies: SRG-APP-000179-NDM-000265, SRG-APP-000224-NDM-000270, SRG-APP-000411-NDM-000330, SRG-APP-000412-NDM-000331

Verify the AOS configuration with the following command: show fips

If "FIPS settings: Mode Enabled" is not returned, this is a finding.

Configure AOS with the following commands: configure terminal fips enable write memory reload