Choosing the Right Linux Distro for FIPS 140-3 Certification

FIPS is very much a US-focused standard. It's worth investigating whether there's an equivalent certification within the EU. Honestly, I find dealing with FIPS can be complex, and I've noted some issues with Ubuntu Pro FIPS that weren't present in the regular version.

I'd recommend reaching out to your backup vendor. The last backup system I worked with had some oddities relating to FIPS 140-3, especially in terms of encryption methods. Essentially, the FIPS certification for the operating system mainly applies to the client running the backup, while the server's FIPS compliance largely depends on the backup software vendor itself.

It's crucial to check with your local regulatory bodies about compliance requirements. You definitely need to adhere to GDPR. As for FIPS, it's more of an American standard, though it is recognized internationally. From my research, it doesn't seem mandatory in Italy or the EU, but I recommend confirming this with legal counsel or local authorities to be sure you're fully compliant.

Make sure to look into local regulations. If you opt for FIPS certification, I have mostly worked with EL-based systems. I haven't encountered a Debian or Ubuntu system with FIPS enabled yet. Just a heads up, FIPS mode can bring unexpected challenges that aren't always straightforward to resolve.