What is the validation process?
COACT will assist you in determining if your product and its accompanying documentation are likely to FIPS compliant. If we feel that your product is not yet ready for validation testing, we will help you determine what the appropriate steps are to prepare for validation testing. Once your product is ready, COACT performs the tests and generates vectors for all algorithms that are tested. We request that your product be listed on the pre-validation list (if desired). We then document the test results and formally submit them to the National Institute of Standards (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE). The submission is then reviewed and commented on by NIST and CSE. COACT responds to the comments, and when NIST and CSE are satisfied that the requirements have been met, a validation certification is awarded. When a certificate is issued, it is sent to COACT and we then forward it to you.
