FIPS 140-3 Policy-As-Code: Automating Compliance in Your CI/CD Pipeline

The audit began before sunrise. Code was frozen in the repository, compliance checks humming in the pipeline. Every commit was a potential risk, every artifact a point of failure. FIPS 140-3 wasn’t just another checkbox—it was the cryptographic standard that could make or break trust in your systems.

FIPS 140-3 Policy-As-Code means turning the standard’s rules into executable logic. No PDFs. No manual checklists. Just automated, enforceable policies running at the same speed as your CI/CD. It takes the language of NIST and translates it into actual code constraints that can block non-compliant builds instantly.

Under FIPS 140-3, cryptographic modules must meet strict requirements across design, documentation, and operation. Policy-As-Code turns those requirements into declarative rules:

• Verify all crypto libraries are FIPS 140-3 validated.
• Enforce correct key sizes and algorithm usage.
• Detect and reject non-compliant configurations at build time.
• Log every decision for audit evidence.

When implemented, these policies integrate directly into version control and deployment workflows. Engineers see violations in pull requests before merging. Security teams get continuous compliance monitoring without digging through reports. Managers can prove adherence with zero lag between code change and policy verification.

A strong FIPS 140-3 Policy-As-Code setup covers:

1. Module Validation Checks – Ensure every crypto operation calls a validated module.
2. Algorithm Restrictions – Block use of deprecated or non-approved algorithms.
3. Config Enforcement – Automate secure settings for encryption, key management, and randomness sources.
4. Automated Evidence Collection – Maintain immutable logs that satisfy auditors without manual effort.

This approach reduces compliance drift, eliminates human error, and aligns security with delivery speed. It’s faster, more reliable, and transparent—critical in regulated environments where a single misstep can mean penalties or breaches.

You don’t need weeks of setup to see it work. With hoop.dev, you can run a FIPS 140-3 Policy-As-Code enforcement pipeline in minutes. Try it now and watch compliance become part of your code’s DNA—live, automated, and unbreakable.