Move current government-conducted evaluation and testing efforts to accredited, private sector laboratories. Help establish the elements of a robust commercial security testing industry. Establish the basis for international mutual recognition and acceptance of security products test results . This means that the security functionality and assurance requirements of a product or system must be formally described or specified. Resources and Facilities Initial NIAP facilities and offices are located at the NIST North building, just across from the main NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Facilities consist of basic laboratory space for research and development activities.
In addition, there is working space for the NIAP professional staff from NIST, NSA, guest researchers and support contractors. Additional lab and working space is planned for industry and other collaborating organizations. National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST is an agency of the Commerce Department's Technology Administration. Since 1972, NIST has played a vital role in protecting the security and integrity of information in computer systems in the public and private sectors. The Computer Security Act of 1987 reaffirmed NIST's leadership role in the federal government for the protection of unclassified information.