Authernative, Inc., the developer of innovative user authentication and identity management technologies, announced today that the Authernative(R) Cryptographic Module has been awarded Federal Information Processing Standards Publications (FIPS) 140-2 Validation. This certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States, and the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC), provides cryptographic product validation to Federal agencies for use in protecting sensitive government data in computer and telecommunication systems. FIPS 140-2 provides stringent third-party assurance of security claims on any product containing cryptography that may be purchased by a government agency.