Which Federal Information Processing Standard relates specifically to digital signatures?

The Federal Information Processing Standard that relates specifically to digital signatures is FIPS 186. This standard, also known as the Digital Signature Standard (DSS), outlines the requirements for digital signatures and the associated algorithms for implementing them, ensuring that the integrity and authenticity of digital communications can be verified.

FIPS 186 specifies the use of algorithms such as the Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) and provides guidelines on key management and signature generation processes. The significance of FIPS 186 lies in its role in establishing a framework that government agencies and organizations can rely on for secure electronic transactions, making it critically important for systems that require the verification of identity and data integrity through digital signatures.

The other options, while also related to security standards, do not specifically address digital signatures: FIPS 201 pertains to Personal Identity Verification, FIPS 140 relates to security requirements for cryptographic modules, and FIPS 197 outlines the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for data encryption.