Skip to Main Content
The Data Encryption Standard (DES) was approved as a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) by the Secretary of Commerce on November 23, 1976. This Standard was developed as a part of the Computer Security Program within the Institute for Computer Sciences and Technology at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). This paper places this standard in perspective with other computer security measures that can and should be applied to Federal computer systems either before or coincident to using the Data Encryption Standard. In 1972, NBS initiated the standards development effort leading to adoption of the DES. During this period, NBS solicited for algorithms and information upon which a standard could be based, published for comment the algorithm which best satisfied the requirements of an encryption standard, and coordinated the effort with both the potential using communities and supplying communities. This paper outlines the environment surrounding and the history of the Data Encryption Standard and discusses the objectives of additional standards to be developed within the computer security program.