New Profile Lays Out Roadmap, Standards for Government Use of IPv6

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published version 1 of a standards profile to support government agencies as they implement Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). IPv6 is the next-generation communication standard that defines how all data (text, voice and video) will move across the future Internet. Still under development, IPv6 will solve a looming problem—the exhaustion of the pool of available “addresses” for Internet-connected devices under the current protocol, IPv4.

NIST developed the profile to help ensure that IPv6-enabled federal information systems are interoperable, secure and able to coexist with the current IPv4 systems. Called A Profile for IPv6 in the U.S. Government – Version 1.0, the profile recommends technical standards for common network devices, such as hosts, routers, firewalls and intrusion detection systems. It also outlines the compliance and testing programs that NIST will be establishing to ensure that IPv6-enabled federal information systems work securely with existing IPv4 systems.

NIST also posted a document entitled “USGv6 Version 1 Frequently Asked Questions” to answer commonly asked questions about the scope and purpose of the profile and how it relates to other profile and test efforts, including those of the Department of Defense and IPv6 Forum.

The publications are available at www.antd.nist.gov/usgv6/profile.html.