FIPS 140-3 validation: What it is and what it means for Geotab customers

Geotab has reached another important landmark in our company’s history, becoming the first telematics company with FIPS 140-3 validated hardware. Previously being the first telematics business to earn FIPS 140-2 validation, our recent pivot to FIPS 140-3 enables us to stay ahead of the industry, effectively meet the stringent security requirements of government customers and others in highly regulated sectors and anticipate their future needs. Geotab now joins a select club of other technology companies outside the telematics space in reaching this important achievement, with our GO9, GO9B, GO Rugged and GO9 Plus hardware devices all being validated with this designation.

What is FIPS 140-3 validation?

FIPS 140-3 validation is formal recognition of having reached the highest cryptographic security level available, as established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). FIPS, or the Federal Information Processing Standards, are a collection of benchmarks created by the NIST and ratified by the Secretary of Commerce for federal computer systems. Private sector entities choose to use these benchmarks to maintain safer, more rigid, cybersecurity processes in their operations, which comply with government standards.

This validation is a seal of approval that FIPS 140-3–verified Geotab devices meet the strict requirements of the NIST for cryptographic modules. It also means that vehicle data is kept secure during both its collection phases and subsequent transmission phases.

Why is FIPS 140-3 validation important for our customers? 

Having a trustworthy telematics partner that strongly values data security, information privacy and customer satisfaction is critical for optimized fleet operations. Geotab maintains this approach by bringing you rich insights from each of your vehicles in the most secure ways possible, from having gained independent validation on our hardware devices, to closely following strict internal processes around access controls and data handling. 

Gaining FIPS 140-3 validation enables us to continue helping you: 

• Keep sensitive information safer, preventing private data from being exposed to your competitors, to malicious actors, or to the public.
• Maintain compliance and lower your risk of experiencing a data breach or incurring any resulting regulatory fines.
• Better protect your employees while they complete their jobs in the field each day.
• Have more peace of mind about the security of your data and how threat-resistant your telematics devices are.

Explore our security page and resource collection

While remaining an essential component of our offering, FIPS 140-3 validation is only a fraction of everything that Geotab’s security-first approach to telematics can do for your organization. A “privacy by design” culture is ingrained in every aspect of our company’s processes. For federal customers, our solution is FedRAMP-authorized and we’ve received a number of other designations that verify our security and data privacy standards in the eyes of third-party assessors. Check out our security page and its featured collection of resources to learn more. 

Geotab is proud to be a leader in secure telematics. By earning the achievement of FIPS 140-3 validation, we’re making breakthrough strides in the fleet management industry and helping our customers stay compliant with constantly evolving security regulations.

Reach out to us today if you’d like to discover more about Geotab’s security stance and how our platform can help you drive operational excellence while keeping your data safer.