Katarzyna Petru
Apple has announced that the iPhone and iPad have become the first consumer mobile devices approved for processing classified information at the "NATO Secret" level. The certification was granted after rigorous tests conducted by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). This is a groundbreaking moment, as previously similar standards were only met by specialized, costly government and corporate solutions.
NATO Certification and the Role of the German BSI
The approval process included detailed technical audits, security tests, and an analysis of the architecture of iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 systems. The German BSI confirmed that the built-in protective mechanisms meet the stringent requirements applicable in NATO countries. With this decision, iPhone and iPad have been added to the NATO Information Assurance Products Catalogue. This means they can be used for storing and processing classified information without the need to install additional specialist security software.
What’s behind the decision? Security “from the ground up”
Apple has been emphasising for years that security measures are designed in parallel with hardware and software. Key elements include:
full data encryption,
biometric authentication with Face ID,
memory integrity protection (Memory Integrity Enforcement),
isolation of processes at the Apple Silicon chip level.
According to company representatives, it is this integration of hardware, system, and security architecture that allowed them to meet government requirements without the need to modify devices for specific implementations.
NATO certification for the iPhone and iPad is an important signal that the line between consumer devices and government security solutions is beginning to blur. If the decision translates into real implementations in public administration and international structures, Apple may further solidify its position as a provider of secure mobile platforms.
Source: apple.com
