Who approves FIPS?

• A. Secretary of Commerce
• B. Director of NIST
• C. Secretary of Homeland Security
• D. President

Answer: (A)

FIPS are official Federal Information Processing Standards. They’re created by NIST to standardize how federal agencies handle information processing. Once NIST develops a standard, it must be approved by the Secretary of Commerce to become an official FIPS. The director of NIST can draft and publish the standard, but the authoritative approval rests with the Secretary of Commerce. That’s why the Secretary of Commerce is the correct approving authority. The Secretary of Homeland Security or the President do not approve FIPS.