Where to Find FIPS 140-2 Validation Certificate Numbers for Microsoft 365
Question details
Auditors require specific FIPS 140-2 validation certificate numbers for Microsoft 365 features, rather than general compliance statements.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing for a security audit where specific cryptographic module validation certificates are required to prove compliance for Microsoft 365 services.
- Observed behavior
- General statements that a product is validated are provided, but these do not identify the exact certificate associated with each service component.
Ensure you have an active Microsoft 365 administrator account, as you will need it to log into the Microsoft Service Trust Portal to access detailed compliance evidence.
Locate Certificate Evidence via the Microsoft Service Trust Portal
Use official Microsoft compliance portals and documentation to track down specific cryptographic module validations.
Microsoft provides comprehensive security and compliance documentation through dedicated portals. Because Microsoft 365 relies on shared cloud infrastructure, you often need to cross-reference Windows security validation, Azure compliance, and specific Office 365 documentation.
Navigate to the Microsoft Service Trust Portal (aka.ms/STP) and sign in using your Microsoft 365 administrator credentials.
Use the search bar or navigate to the 'Audit Reports' section to find documentation specifically labeled for FIPS 140-2 compliance and cryptographic module validation.
Visit the 'FIPS Publication 140-2 - Microsoft Compliance' offering page on the Microsoft Learn documentation site to review the list of validated cryptographic modules used across Azure and Microsoft 365.
Take the specific module names found in the Microsoft documentation and search for them in the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) database to find the exact certificate numbers.
If you cannot map a specific feature like 'Office 365 Message Encryption' to a certificate number, open a support ticket via the Microsoft 365 admin center requesting that a compliance representative provide the exact mapping.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a FIPS 140-2 validation certificate?
It is a certificate issued by the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) that formally verifies a specific cryptographic module meets strict Federal Information Processing Standards for security and encryption.
Why do auditors reject general compliance statements for Microsoft 365?
Strict audits require proof of the exact cryptographic module and version being used by a specific service component. General statements do not provide the concrete NIST certificate numbers necessary to verify that the encryption actually applied meets regulatory requirements.
Can I find all Microsoft 365 FIPS 140-2 certificates in one single document?
Usually not. Because Microsoft 365 relies on underlying Windows and Azure infrastructure, the cryptographic modules are often validated at the OS or platform level. You must typically review Service Trust Portal documents and map them using the NIST CMVP database.
