What is NSA NIAP?

In an effort to empower consumers, each year Consumer Reports tests and evaluates more than 3,000 products.

The nonprofit organization then publishes detailed reviews, ratings, and recommendations to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. But what about the cybersecurity marketplace? Is there a Consumer Reports for advanced cybersecurity needs?

NIAP's commitment to neutral, third-party testing

The National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP). is a United States government initiative designed to meet the security testing, evaluation, and assessment needs of information technology (IT) producers and consumers.

NIAP is a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA), with the intent to provide neutral third-party security testing of cybersecurity products for use in both the private and public sectors. NIAP’s long term goal is to increase the level of trust consumers have in their IT systems and networks through the use of cost-effective security testing, evaluation, and assessment programs.

"NIAP is critical for assessing in a standardized manner the security of IT products,” said Harold Smith III, Monkton’s CEO and Co-Founder. “The organization’s mission not only helps build confidence, it also safeguards the digital landscape."

NIAP Common Criteria

As the online landscape is constantly changing, global cybersecurity standards must exist. These standards are defined and governed by NIAP’s Common Criteria (CC), which drives the broadest range of mutually recognized secure IT products.

If a product carries the CC stamp of approval, it has been evaluated by trusted and independent licensed laboratories, earning the product a certificate recognized by over 30 countries. Any product that passes the initial validation is placed on the In-Evaluation list before being labeled as NIAP Validated and appearing on the NSA’s Product Compliant List. (Yes, that is confusing, Validation usually means “Validated” but NSA means “Compliant.”)

What does the CC stamp of approval mean?

“A NIAP Validation goes beyond government endorsement, it enables the private sector to leverage the same standards as classified programs,” said Smith.

While a NIAP Validation gives a product the green light for government use in classified environments, it doesn’t end there. As private-sector organizations also crave robust and portable security solutions, having a NIAP Validation demonstrates your organizations commitment to security standards.

As more employees across various industries work remotely, the threat of cyber attacks increases. So, having a NIAP Validation is extra assurance of a third party.

Find out more about our NIAP-certified solutions and get a personal demo by emailing: support@monkton.io