Acronis delivers FIPS 140-2-compliant encryption to strengthen your cyber protection

For managed service providers (MSPs) navigating compliance-driven industries from government and health care to finance and defense, strict encryption requirements aren't just an option, they’re vital for winning business. Whether you’re protecting government agency data or safeguarding financial records, meeting FIPS-level standards sets you apart from competitors that can’t check the same compliance boxes. With the latest release of Acronis Cyber Protect and Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, you can now leverage FIPS 140-2-validated encryption to deliver secure, compliant cyber protection across even the most regulated environments.

What is FIPS 140-2?

FIPS 140-2 is a cryptographic standard developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It outlines the requirements and best practices for implementing cryptographic modules to protect sensitive information. This standard is commonly mandated by U.S. federal agencies, government contractors and organizations working with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It’s also widely embraced across industries like health care, finance and defense as a recognized best practice for data security — particularly where U.S. regulatory frameworks such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) set the bar high.

Why FIPS 140-2 matters

• Expanding market opportunities: Noncompliance with FIPS 140-2 may immediately disqualify you from serving certain government, health care and finance sectors. With FIPS 140-2 support, you’ll have a stronger competitive advantage in pursuing new market segments and winning contracts that were previously off limits.
• Ensuring compliance and reducing risk: Many regulatory frameworks, including FISMA, CJIS and the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), explicitly require FIPS-compliant encryption. Without it, you risk penalties, fines and even losing your ability to serve key customers. By using Acronis solutions, you ensure encrypted backups meet these stringent requirements, giving you peace of mind and minimizing the likelihood of costly noncompliance scenarios.
• Improved security and customer confidence: According to the 2024 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average global data breach cost hit $4.88 million. Leveraging FIPS 140-2-validated encryption can significantly reduce the risk of breaches. With Acronis, you’re using recognized encryption methods that keep critical backups secure — whether they’re stored on premises, in the cloud or across hybrid environments. This level of protection bolsters customer trust and safeguards your reputation.

Who benefits from FIPS 140-2 support?

MSPs: If you’re serving clients in highly regulated environments, demonstrating FIPS 140-2 compliance helps you stand apart. You become an eligible vendor for federal agencies, defense contractors, health care providers and financial institutions that demand this level of security assurance.

Corporate customers: Enterprises that deal with confidential records — ranging from financial transactions to patient data — require top-tier encryption. FIPS 140-2 compliance enables you to meet strict internal and external mandates, confidently engage with regulated entities and reduce potential legal liabilities.

Acronis: your complete FIPS 140-2-compliant solution

Unlike noncompliant backup solutions, Acronis provides a complete cyber protection platform that now includes native support for FIPS 140-2-validated encryption libraries — at no additional cost. This all-in-one approach means you don’t have to juggle multiple tools or vendors to achieve compliance and maintain strong security. With Acronis, you get:

• Competitive advantage: Meet stringent encryption standards and gain a foothold in new markets.
• Regulatory alignment: Comply with frameworks like FISMA, CJIS and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), opening doors to government and regulated industry customers.
• Reduced risk of breaches: Protect your data with proven, tested encryption methods, ensuring that even in the face of growing cyberthreats, your backups remain secure and uncompromised.

How to enable FIPS 140-2 compliance

Enabling FIPS 140-2 compliance is straightforward. When installing the Acronis Agent, simply select the FIPS-compliant setting in the installer. Once installed, this agent version utilizes FIPS-compliant, NIST-certified, OpenSSL cryptographic libraries for all encryption tasks. Note that this capability is available on FIPS-compliant operating systems, including Windows 10 version 1809 and above, as well as 64-bit Linux distributions. FIPS 140-2 compliance requires Acronis agent version 24.12.39201 and above.

Relevant compliance and regulatory standards overview

In some cases, organizations must adhere to FIPS 140-2 mandates to maintain operational eligibility, while in others, implementing it as a best practice helps strengthen compliance posture and reduce risk.

For instance, achieving FIPS 140-2 compliance is a core requirement within U.S. government and defense environments. This includes meeting guidelines set forth by the FISMA for federal agencies and their contractors, aligning with CJIS within the law enforcement community, and maintaining compliance with DFARS standards for Department of Defense contractors. Likewise, the NIST Special Publication 800-53 (NIST SP 800-53) and FedRAMP mandate FIPS 140-2 compliance for federal entities and cloud service providers, respectively.

Beyond these direct requirements, FIPS 140-2 serves as a recognized benchmark to guide best practices in other sectors. Health care organizations operating under HIPAA, financial institutions bound by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), entities involved in defense-related exports subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and publicly traded companies adhering to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) can all benefit from FIPS 140-2’s stringent encryption standards. While not always mandated, integrating FIPS 140-2 into these environments reinforces cybersecurity strategies and ensures data integrity across the board.

Bolster your security and compliance with Acronis

Upgrade your protection today and give your clients the confidence they need in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Contact your Acronis representative to learn more about how FIPS 140-2 support can help expand your capabilities and drive your business forward.