Apple iPhones, iPads Approved by NATO for Restricted Data

Apple announced on Thursday that its iPhone and iPad devices have received approval from NATO to handle classified information at the Restricted level, marking the first time consumer smartphones and tablets have achieved such certification without requiring custom software or configurations.

The approval, detailed in the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalogue, applies to devices running iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. It allows military and government personnel in all NATO member countries to use the devices for secure access to functions such as Mail, Calendar, and Contacts. Officials from the alliance evaluated the products through rigorous testing, including assessments by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, confirming that Apple's built-in security features meet the required standards for protecting data whose disclosure could harm operational interests.

NATO Restricted represents the alliance's lowest classification level for sensitive information, below Confidential and Secret. Products listed in the catalogue must originate from NATO member states, undergo vetting, and hold certifications like Common Criteria. Apple's devices qualified based on their...