A non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Its mission is to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
NIST has a wide range of responsibilities and activities, including:
- Developing and promoting the use of standardization and measurement science to improve the quality, safety, and competitiveness of U.S. products and services.
- Developing and maintaining an extensive set of standards, guidelines, and best practices for information technology and cybersecurity.
- Providing technical assistance and training to businesses, organizations, and government agencies to help them adopt and use standards and best practices.
- Conducting research in areas such as materials science, engineering, and information technology, to support the development of new standards and technologies.
- Operating the National Physical Laboratory, which provides calibration and measurement services to industry, government, and academia.
- Supporting the development and use of advanced manufacturing technologies through programs such as the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
- Providing forensic science services, which support investigations and court proceedings.
NIST is a highly respected and influential organization, both in the U.S. and internationally. Its standards, guidelines, and best practices are widely adopted and its research findings are widely recognized as authoritative. The organization is committed to transparency, impartiality, and open process.
One of the most known standards developed by NIST is the Data Encryption Standard (DES), which was one of the first widely-used encryption algorithms. Another standard is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is widely used today and considered secure. NIST also has a role in the development of file format standards such as IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) which is used in the CAD/CAM field to facilitate data exchange.
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