Guideline for Implementing Cryptography in the Federal Government

Published

November 1, 1999

Author(s)

Annabelle Lee

Abstract

[Superseded by SP 800-21 Second edition (December 2005): http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication-search.cfm?pub_id=150421] The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to Federal agencies on how to select cryptographic controls for protecting Sensitive Unclassified1 information. This document focuses on Federal standards documented in Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS PUBs) and the cryptographic modules and algorithms that are validated against these standards. However, to provide additional information, other standards organizations, (e.g., American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO)) are briefly discussed.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-21

Report Number

800-21

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Superceded By Publication

Guideline for Implementing Cryptography In the Federal Government [Second Edition]

Keywords

cryptographic algorithm, cryptographic hash function, cryptographic key, cryptographic module, digital signature, key establishment, key management, message authentication code

Citation

Lee, A. (1999), Guideline for Implementing Cryptography in the Federal Government, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed January 10, 2026)