For Kubernetes security, full-stack FIPS is the answer

If you work in or around a government agency dealing with highly sensitive information, you don’t need convincing that security is serious business.

A breach isn’t just “some records got leaked.” It can result in compromised national security, economic disruption, public safety disasters, and loss of public trust. And in military environments, it can literally mean life or death.

That’s why the U.S. government created the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS),, and why any system used by federal, military, or intelligence agencies is expected to be FIPS compliant.

Today, as cyberattacks grow more frequent and sophisticated, FIPS is no longer just “a government thing.” Healthcare, finance, telco, critical infrastructure, and basically anyone dealing with sensitive data is waking up to the same conclusion: If you want the strongest protection, you want FIPS-validated cryptography.

But here’s the catch: Not all FIPS support is created equal. Some Kubernetes vendors do the bare minimum. Others, like Spectro Cloud’s Palette VerteX, give you full-stack, end-to-end FIPS Kubernetes. If you’re serious about security, the difference is night and day.

Why is FIPS such a big deal?

In today’s world, simply saying “we use encryption” doesn’t guarantee results. If the crypto is weak, mis-implemented, or not validated, attackers can still break it. FIPS exists to reduce that risk.

When federal agencies first started storing sensitive data on computers, there were many varieties of encryption floating around and every department chose its own versions. There were no shared rules, no consistent methods, and no standard for evaluating the quality of the crypto.

Over time, the push to unify, strengthen, and standardize encryption gave us the modern FIPS framework, which provides:

• Centralized, government-backed standards
• Validated cryptography that’s been lab-tested
• Uniform requirements across agencies and industries

When people talk about FIPS compliance for Kubernetes, Linux, or cloud-native platforms, they typically mean FIPS 140, the standard that governs cryptographic modules.

An important point: unlike most security controls, FIPS 140 compliance is a compile-time feature. That means FIPS support has to be baked into the binary when it’s built by your vendor. You as a customer can’t flip it on later with a config flag or do anything yourself to make a piece of software FIPS-compliant. Once the module is compiled with (or without) FIPS-validated components, that decision is locked in. That puts the onus squarely on the vendor to understand the requirements, build their software the right way, and ship components that are genuinely FIPS-compliant, and not just “encrypted.”

What FIPS compliance really means

Modern security is built on encryption. FIPS focuses on the quality of that encryption.

At the heart of FIPS is the concept of a cryptographic module. Think of it as the “engine” that does all the cryptographic operations: encryption, decryption, hashing, signing, etc.

To be FIPS 140-2 or FIPS 140-3 validated, a crypto module must:

• Be tested by an accredited lab
• Meet strict algorithm, key management, and design requirements
• Pass the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) that is run by NIST and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

If it passes, it gets an official FIPS certificate. From that point on, any product using that module correctly can claim FIPS compliance.

Key point: FIPS validates only crypto modules, not whole products. A platform is FIPS compliant if it uses only validated modules in all the right places. Spectro Cloud enables customers to easily assemble a fully conformant stack by providing a curated selection of components that are all FIPS-validated or FIPS-compliant, eliminating the need to manage multiple vendors to achieve an end-to-end FIPS-compliant cluster.

FIPS 140-2 vs. 140-3: old guard vs. new standard

What’s the difference between FIPS 140-2 and 140-3? 

FIPS 140-2 was published in 2001 and has been the main standard for 20+ years. Most validated modules today are still 140-2 models. FIPS 140-3 was released in 2019 and is designed for today’s threats, not those from 20 years ago. It aligns with international standards (ISO/IEC 19790) and raises the bar on testing, documentation, and overall assurance.

As older FIPS 140-2 modules age out and get revalidated, FIPS 140-3 is gradually taking over. If you’re planning for the future, you want to see 140-3 on the roadmap (or better yet, already in place).

Security assurance for SaaS with FedRAMP, FIPS’s partner in cloud security

When government agencies run software on-premises, they must follow strict Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and other federal hardening rules. All the platform risk is on them. The same is true for any self-hosted software: Whoever runs it must follow the right risk frameworks to keep the environment compliant and secure.

When you move to a cloud-based SaaS environment, everything flips. Because you are no longer the operator, you cannot configure the cloud platform yourself. That’s why FedRAMP exists.

Once the U.S. government went “Cloud First” around 2010, agencies rushed into the cloud. While the cloud brought agility and scalability, it also introduced a whole new attack surface. Security teams now had to deal with headaches such as:

• Identity sprawl
• Misconfigured cloud resources
• Exposed APIs
• Supply-chain risks
• Multi-tenant complexity

To bring order to this cloud chaos, the government launched FedRAMP in 2011. It provided a standardized way to assess cloud service security, authorize providers to handle federal data, and continuously monitor their posture.

In 2022, Congress passed the FedRAMP Authorization Act, cementing it into law and making it the core framework for federal cloud security.

FedRAMP compliance is how a SaaS provider (like Spectro Cloud) proves to government customers that their cloud service is built, managed, and monitored to federal standards. It’s the government’s way of saying, “Yes, this provider is doing things the secure way. Go ahead and use them.”

How FIPS and FedRAMP fit together

So what has FedRAMP got to do with FIPS? Well, to gain FedRAMP approval, vendors have to show they meet NIST 800-53 security baselines.

NIST 800-53 provides a comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls spanning every aspect of operating a secure system, from access control and configuration management to auditing, monitoring, and incident response. 

Importantly, NIST 800-53 explicitly references FIPS requirements for cryptography, embedding validated encryption into the foundational security expectations that FedRAMP enforces for cloud providers.

So if you choose a FedRAMP SaaS provider, you know that they too are following the FIPS standards in their own IT environments, and that they have been audited by a third-party assessor.

Go, BoringCrypto, and why they matter for FIPS and Kubernetes

We've just looked at why FIPS matters and what it is. Now let's look at Kubernetes through the FIPS lens.

Most of Kubernetes is written in Go (Golang). That means that the crypto under the hood (TLS, certificates, handshakes, etc.) all depend heavily on Go’s cryptography.

Standard Go crypto libraries are not FIPS validated. They are fine in many contexts, but they don’t meet FIPS 140 requirements. That’s where Go Boring and BoringCrypto come in:

• Go Boring is a fork of the Go toolchain that lets Go programs use a FIPS-validated module underneath.
• BoringCrypto is the FIPS-validated crypto module (from the BoringSSL world) that replaces the default Go crypto stack.

When a vendor says their Kubernetes binaries are “built with BoringCrypto,” they mean:

• Go’s built-in crypto is swapped out for calls into a validated module.
• Those particular Go binaries can then participate in FIPS compliance.

This is a good start, but it’s only one piece of the full picture.

Not all FIPS support is equal: from “just enough” to “full stack”

In the world of Kubernetes security, the degree of FIPS support is a major distinction.

When a vendor says, “our Kubernetes supports FIPS,” that might mean anything along a spectrum of low to high compliance.

At the low end of the spectrum you have minimal FIPS support, which means:

• A few key Kubernetes binaries are compiled with Go+BoringCrypto.
• Those Go-based pieces use FIPS-approved crypto.
• Everything else depends on you, meaning you must pick a FIPS-capable OS, choose FIPS-compliant CNIs, CSIs, and add-ons, and enforce the right TLS settings.

At the high end of the spectrum is full-stack FIPS support, which means the OS, Kubernetes distro, CNI, CSI, runtime, and management plane all use FIPS-validated crypto — and that there are policies to enforce FIPS mode. Providing full end-to-end FIPS support isn’t easy. 

The Palette VerteX difference: end-to-end FIPS, not just FIPS “flavor”

Spectro Cloud’s Palette VerteX is purposely engineered to sit at the full-stack end of the spectrum. Instead of stopping at BoringCrypto and calling it a day, Palette VerteX:

• Uses FIPS-compliant OS images like Ubuntu Pro FIPS
• Provides hardened Kubernetes distributions (PXK and PXK-E) built for FIPS environments
• Ensures the CNI and CSI layers are FIPS-aligned (Calico, vSphere CSI, etc.)
• Integrates a FIPS 140-3 validated crypto module into the management platform itself
• Automates scanning, enforcement, and verification across the entire stack

VerteX also is the first and only multi-environment Kubernetes management platform to achieve FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP validation/authorization together.

So you’re not just getting a “FIPS-ish” solution. You’re getting a platform designed from top to bottom for regulated, high-security environments.

FIPS in the management plane: the piece most vendors skip

Here’s a subtle but important point about FIPS compliance: If the Kubernetes management system itself isn’t using validated crypto, the overall solution is not truly FIPS compliant.

Even if all your clusters use FIPS components, if your central control plane is using non-validated crypto, you’ve broken the chain.

In VerteX, both the main management platform and the on-cluster agent that connects clusters back to Palette both run in fully FIPS-compliant mode. So FIPS isn’t just “down in the cluster.” It’s part of the control fabric of your entire Kubernetes estate.

How VerteX helps you stay FIPS-aligned 

Building a FIPS-aligned cluster is only the beginning. Maintaining that posture over time as your environment evolves is an ongoing challenge. 

Palette VerteX provides automated checks to help ensure that Kubernetes clusters remain aligned with federal cryptographic requirements. It does this through a multi-layered validation system that spans operating systems, cluster components, add-ons, and the management plane itself. 

The methods used by VerteX to validate your cluster’s FIPS compliance include:

• Verifying nodes are running approved FIPS-enabled OS images and kernel configurations.
• Checking that Kubernetes control-plane and node components are configured with FIPS-appropriate TLS settings and cipher suites.
• Validating that deployed CNIs, CSIs, and add-ons come from Spectro Cloud’s FIPS-designated packs and trusted registry.
• Monitoring the Palette VerteX management plane to ensure it remains aligned with a FIPS-compliant configuration.
• Monitoring cluster status through FIPS Status Icons that show the FIPS state of clusters, profiles, and packs.

Giving you control: strict FIPS or mixed mode

Not every environment has the same needs. With VerteX, tenant admins can decide whether a tenant must be “100% FIPS-only” or “can mix FIPS and non-FIPS components where appropriate.”

If you choose strict FIPS, Palette blocks non-compliant components from being deployed or upgraded and keeps your environment aligned with your risk and compliance posture.

Built for the environments where security really matters

Palette VerteX doesn’t just deliver full-stack FIPS compliance. It also integrates seamlessly into government-specific cloud environments like AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, and other FedRAMP-compliant platforms where the highest levels of security are mandatory.

These high-stakes environments demand solutions built to provide mission-critical protection. Whether it’s for federal, defense, aerospace, public safety, or any other sector requiring ultra-security, VerteX delivers a Kubernetes management platform designed for handling highly sensitive or regulated data.

Wrapping up: If you care about FIPS, choose your Kubernetes vendor carefully

If you’re in a federal, defense, or regulated industry, FIPS isn’t just another checkbox. It’s a core requirement for protecting sensitive data and gaining the trust of auditors, partners, and citizens.

But vendors’ FIPS claims vary wildly. If you want to separate marketing from actual security, ask:

• Which cryptographic modules are truly validated?
• Which layers of the stack are covered — OS, Kubernetes, CNI, CSI, runtime, management plane?
• How is FIPS enforced over time? What happens when something drifts?
• Can I independently verify compliance, or do I just have to “trust” the platform?

Spectro Cloud Palette VerteX was built to answer those questions with confidence. It’s not just FIPS-flavored and not just “BoringCrypto somewhere in there.”

VerteX gives you full-stack, end-to-end, verifiable FIPS, backed by automated scanning, clear indicators, and a FedRAMP-authorized control plane.

If you’re serious about Kubernetes security in high-stakes environments, that’s the difference that really matters.

Ready to strengthen your security posture? We’d love to show you what true end-to-end FIPS compliance looks like. To learn more about how Palette VerteX can give you the strongest security and simplify your compliance journey, you can book a demo right here, or learn more about how we bake security into everything we do.