Apple announced that iPhone and iPad are the first and only consumer devices approved to handle classified information up to the NATO restricted level without special software or settings.
The approval enables government and enterprise users in all 32 NATO nations to utilize the devices for classified communications under a unified security standard. This certification, listed on the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalogue, sets a new benchmark for commercial mobile security in defense sectors.
The German government’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) conducted the evaluation. BSI performed exhaustive technical assessments and deep security analysis to ensure Apple’s built-in platform security met NATO requirements.
Claudia Plattner, BSI’s president, confirmed the compliance. “Secure digital transformation is only successful if information security is considered from the beginning in the development of mobile products,” Plattner said. “We are pleased to confirm the compliance under NATO nations’ assurance requirements.”
iPhone and iPad previously received approval to handle classified German government data using native iOS and iPadOS security measures. The current certification for iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 expands this access to all NATO nations.
Ivan Krstić, Apple’s vice president of Security Engineering and Architecture, stated that Apple’s built-in security is now uniquely certified under NATO assurance requirements. “Prior to iPhone, secure devices were only available to sophisticated government and enterprise organizations after a massive investment in bespoke security solutions,” Krstić said.
Apple designs security into hardware, software, and Apple silicon. The company’s built-in protections include biometric authentication with Face ID and Memory Integrity Enforcement.
The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) is Germany’s central institution for cyber security. Apple works to maintain security across all of its devices.
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