FIPS

Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are a collection of standards and guidelines developed by the U.S. federal government to promote consistency, security, and interoperability across information technology systems. Published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), FIPS define requirements for data encryption, cybersecurity, digital signatures, authentication, coding systems, and geographic identifiers. These standards ensure that federal agencies, contractors, and organizations handling government information follow uniform practices for protecting sensitive data and maintaining system compatibility. In Geographic Information Systems (GIS), FIPS codes are widely used to uniquely identify states, counties, and other geographic areas, enabling accurate data integration, analysis, and reporting. FIPS standards also support secure communication, regulatory compliance, and reliable information exchange between different systems. By establishing common technical specifications, FIPS improve data quality, reduce compatibility issues, strengthen cybersecurity, and facilitate efficient management of government and public-sector information.