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 Restricted' level. The certification was granted after rigorous testing conducted by the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). This is a groundbreaking moment as until now, similar standards have only been met by specialised, expensive government and corporate solutions.
NATO Certification and the Role of the German BSI
The approval process involved 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. As a result of this decision, the iPhone and iPad have been included in the NATO Information Assurance Products Catalogue. This means that they can be used for storing and processing classified information without the need to install additional specialist security software.
What is behind the decision? Security "from the ground up"
Apple has emphasised for years that security is designed in parallel with hardware and software. Among the key elements are:
full data encryption,
biometric authentication with Face ID,
memory integrity protection,
process isolation at the level of Apple Silicon chipsets.
According to company representatives, it is the integration of hardware, system and security architecture that has allowed them to meet government requirements without the need to modify devices for specific deployments.
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 strengthen its position as a provider of secure mobile platforms.
Source: apple.com
