GoKawiilFBI Tightens CJIS Encryption and Scanning Rules in Version 6.1 Update
The FBI published CJIS Security Policy version 6.1 on June 25, 2026, refining the modernized control-based framework introduced in v6.0 last December. The update raises required encryption key strength from 128-bit to 256-bit for CJI both in transit and at rest, and increases mandatory vulnerability scanning frequency from quarterly to monthly.
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Agencies and vendors handling criminal justice information now face stricter technical baselines just as enforcement of the modernized CJIS framework is ramping up. Because audits follow phased priority levels rather than a single cutover date, organizations must track which controls apply to them now versus later, making misalignment with the latest standard a real compliance risk.
- Encryption requirements for CJI in transit and at rest now mandate at least 256-bit key strength, up from 128-bit.
- Vulnerability scanning must occur monthly instead of quarterly under the new policy.
- Audit timelines are phased by priority level, so agencies don't switch to the new baseline all at once.
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Published there as: “FBI's CJIS v6.1: What Security Teams Need to Know.”
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