What Is FIPS Compliance and Why Does It Matter?

FIPS stands for Federal Information Processing Standards, a set of publicly announced standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use in computer systems by non-military government agencies and contractors. Specifically, FIPS 140-2 and 140-3 relate to cryptographic module validation. They define the security requirements for cryptographic operations like encryption, hashing, and signing.

• Learn more about FIPS 140-2
  
• Explore the latest FIPS 140-3 standard
  
• NIST’s full FIPS series can be found at csrc.nist.gov
  

Many U.S. federal systems (and an increasing number of enterprise platforms handling sensitive or regulated data) are required to run only FIPS-validated cryptographic modules. Without this validation, software components like web services, authentication providers, or spatial data servers will be deemed unsuitable for use in secure environments, particularly those that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Protected Health Information (PHI), or mission-critical defense data.

Why This Is a Big Deal for CoreSpatial and GeoServer Users

GeoServer, a cornerstone of open-source geospatial services, is widely adopted across both public and private sectors. However, until now, deploying GeoServer in a FIPS-validated environment was not possible due to compatibility issues related to the use of older style JCEKS keystores for secret management, among other password handling issues. 

With this new release of CoreSpatial Server, we’ve resolved those limitations by:

• Configuring the Java runtime environment to use Bouncy Castle FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic providers
  
• Hardening container images and RPM-based installations to ensure strict FIPS mode enforcement
  
• Providing turnkey compatibility with RHEL FIPS-enabled operating systems
  
• Validating compatibility with secure ingress and TLS termination using approved ciphers and key lengths
  
• Ensuring continued compatibility with key plugins and extensions, such as WMS/WFS/WCS services, PostGIS integration, and security modules
  

This means CoreSpatial Server customers can now deploy GeoServer in environments where FIPS 140-2 compliance is not optional – including DoD, DHS, and state-level emergency management systems.

Deployment Scenarios Supported

The FIPS-compliant CoreSpatial Server supports:

• Bare metal or VM installations on RHEL 8 and 9 with FIPS mode enabled
  
• Containerized deployments using Podman, Docker, or Kubernetes where the underlying host supports FIPS 140-2 compliant cryptography
  

Whether you’re deploying in a SCIF, in a hybrid cloud with strict compliance policies, or inside an accredited container security boundary, CoreSpatial Server now enables you to take full advantage of GeoServer’s spatial publishing power without compromising on compliance.

Get Started Today

To explore FIPS-ready deployment options or see a demo, contact us at sales@newmoyergeospatial.com or visit our CoreSpatial overview.

For federal agencies and contractors already navigating FedRAMP, CMMC, or NIST 800-171 compliance landscapes, this enhancement brings CoreSpatial one step closer to being your go-to open-source alternative for secure geospatial systems.

The post CoreSpatial Server Adds FIPS 140-2 Compliance to GeoServer first appeared on .

At NGS, we built CoreSpatial to give government users control over their mapping stack – without locking them into a commercial ecosystem. CoreSpatial combines proven open-source technologies with enterprise support, secure delivery, and mission-aligned flexibility.

What Is CoreSpatial?

CoreSpatial is a fully deployable, modular geospatial platform built on proven open-source technologies.

CoreSpatial Server

Host and serve geospatial data securely and efficiently with GeoServer – an OSGeo project that has long served as a staple of OGC compliant web GIS.  CoreSpatial Server provides a hardened, scalable, OGC-compliant GeoServer for WMS, WFS, WMTS, and vector tile services, including GDAL and PostgreSQL/PostGIS for advanced spatial data processing and visualization. It supports high-throughput deployments for internal operations or external sharing and is designed to meet cyber compliance standards across cloud and on-prem environments.

CoreSpatial Basemaps

A curated package of pre-rendered, production-ready basemaps including OpenStreetMap and publicly available global datasets. Delivered with loading scripts, caching configurations, and high availability support, the basemaps module gives your teams a foundation to start building immediately — without needing to source or tile your own data.

CoreSpatial Map Manager

An intuitive interface for importing and managing new high-resolution imagery or elevation data. Built for usability, Map Manager lets you drag and drop datasets into your CoreSpatial environment, handles preprocessing and tiling, and automatically publishes the data through CoreSpatial Server. No GIS background required.

CoreSpatial HIFLD

This optional data module includes critical infrastructure layers from DHS HIFLD and other government sources, packaged for immediate use. Includes metadata, categories, and integration-ready styling for emergency management, public safety, and infrastructure planning.

CoreSpatial Portal

Built on MapStore2, CesiumJS, and OpenLayers, CoreSpatial Portal is a full-featured content management interface for geospatial assets. It allows users to create dashboards, interactive maps, story maps, and reports — all powered by your CoreSpatial services. Portal is ideal for internal collaboration or public transparency, and includes tools for access control, theming, and analytics.

Every CoreSpatial deployment is standards-based, vendor-agnostic, and tailored to the needs of government organizations.

Who Is CoreSpatial For?

We work with agencies at all levels – federal, state, and local – to deliver custom geospatial platforms that meet operational requirements:

Federal Civilian Agencies

DHS and FEMA geospatial coordination

NOAA and USGS data visualization and dissemination

CBP, TSA, and critical infrastructure overlays

State & Local Governments

Emergency response coordination and common operating pictures

County GIS systems for planning, permitting, and land use

Public safety dashboards for law enforcement and fire services

Defense & Intelligence Programs

C2 system integration

Tactical and ISR mapping

Coalition and interagency data sharing

Why Choose CoreSpatial?

✔️ Full Deployment Control – Run CoreSpatial in your cloud, on-prem, or in an air-gapped environment
✔️ No Licensing Headaches – No per-user, per-core, or hidden fees
✔️ Enterprise-Grade Delivery – Includes support, security, Kubernetes deployment, and DevSecOps automation
✔️ Open Standards – Built entirely on OGC-compliant technologies
✔️ Adaptable to Any Mission – Add plugins, customize layers, and build exactly what your team needs

Let’s Talk

Whether you’re replacing a legacy GIS, building a new app with a map component, or modernizing your entire geospatial backend – we can help.

📧Contact NGS to schedule a live walkthrough or technical briefing.

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