The Voice Video Session Manager must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography to generate cryptographic hashes and to protect sensitive unclassified information.

Use of weak or untested encryption algorithms undermines the purposes of utilizing encryption to protect data. The network element must implement cryptographic modules adhering to the higher standards approved by the federal government since this provides assurance they have been tested and validated.

Voice Video protocol suites include SIP, SCCP, and H.323. Each of these protocol suites uses different methodologies for securing transmitted signaling. The H.323 protocol suite relies on the H.235 series, which describes security within H.323, including security for both signaling and media. For SIP protocol, the DoD has created the AS-SIP protocol, which provides for implementing Transport Layer Security (TLS), Multi-Level Precedence and Preemption (MLPP), reliance on Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) for media streams, and Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) for traffic management through priority packet routing. To secure SCCP, TLS must be implemented with the protocol.