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Need a fast and simple way to get FIPS validation in Kubernetes, but don't want to deal with the operational complexity of Istio?
Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd is dramatically reducing our time to FIPS certification, allowing us to ensure security and compliance of our customers' sensitive data." — Chris Armstrong, CIO, Medwatchers
The world's lightest, most secure service mesh, now with FIPS validated encryptionLinkerd is a CNCF-graduated, ultra-simple, security-first service mesh that provides all the benefits of Istio without the operational complexity. For deployments that require FIPS conformance, Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd is a fully-supported distribution of Linkerd that uses FIPS-validated cryptographic libraries for all encryption, in compliance with the strict federal government cybersecurity requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 and FIPS 140-3 standards.
Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd gives government institutions and those doing business with them the ability to fast-track FIPS conformance and FedRAMP ATO, by adding FIPS-validated encryption in transit between all application components, without requiring application changes.
Linkerd vs Istio vs Cilium 2024 benchmarks originally published by LiveWyer
Linkerd's security-first postureLinkerd provides many other benefits over Istio. Unlike Istio, Linkerd has been built for security from the ground up. Instead of repurposing the general-purpose C++ Envoy proxy, Linkerd uses an ultra-secure micro-proxy written in Rust. This allows Linkerd to avoid the security perils of C++, a language known for its security vulnerabilities, buffer overflow exploits, and CVEs.
Google’s Chromium project found that 70% of serious security bugs are due to memory safety problems. Linkerd avoids these problems by using Rust.
Who is FIPS validated Linkerd for?Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd is designed specifically for organizations that must comply with FIPS 140-2 and 140-3 standards. We'd love to chat about how FIPS-validated Linkerd can help you achieve FIPS conformance or FedRAMP ATO in Kubernetes.
FedRAMP, FIPS, and zero trust are three critical concepts for any company that wants to do business with the federal government. This whitepaper dives into these three concepts and how Buoyant Enterprise for Linkerd can fast-track your journey.
Download whitepaperThe FIPS standards cover a broad range of topics, including encryption algorithms, access control mechanisms, physical security, and network protocols. These standards are used by government agencies, contractors, and other organizations that handle sensitive information to ensure that their systems meet the highest levels of security and compliance. Compliance with FIPS standards is often a requirement for government contracts and is a critical component of cybersecurity best practices.
FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) is a set of guidelines and requirements, including for cryptographic modules, that is used by federal agencies and other regulated industries. FIPS compliance ensures that cryptographic algorithms are implemented correctly and securely, providing strong protection for sensitive data.
FIPS 140-2 vs 800-204A vs 800-207
FIPS 140-2, 800-204A, and 800-207 are different standards published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that address different aspects of information security.
FIPS 140-2 is a standard that specifies the security requirements for cryptographic modules used in protecting sensitive information. It outlines the requirements for the design, implementation, and testing of cryptographic modules, including encryption algorithms, key management, and random number generation.
NIST 800-204A is a guideline that provides recommendations for the security and privacy requirements of controlled unclassified information (CUI) in nonfederal systems and organizations. It outlines the security controls and best practices that should be implemented to protect CUI, including access control, audit and accountability, and incident response.
NIST 800-207 is a standard that outlines the security considerations and best practices for the use of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) in securing modern information systems. It provides guidance on the design, implementation, and management of ZTA, which is a security model that assumes no trust in any user or device and requires strict authentication and authorization for all system interactions.
In short, FIPS 140-2 specifies the security requirements for cryptographic modules, NIST 800-204A provides guidance on securing controlled unclassified information, and NIST 800-207 outlines the best practices for implementing Zero Trust Architecture in information security.
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