NATO has determined that Apple's iPhone and iPad meet the necessary security standards following thorough evaluations conducted by German authorities, allowing their use at the alliance's restricted classified tier.
The testing was carried out by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security, known as BSI. This agency initially certified the iPhone and iPad for official government applications in Germany back in 2022. For the further NATO endorsement, Apple indicates that BSI performed detailed technical reviews, in-depth evaluations, and thorough examinations of security features.
For those outside NATO employment, this development holds little direct relevance. However, it lends credence to certain of Apple's assertions regarding device protection. Apple's announcement highlights that these represent the initial consumer-oriented products to achieve such validation, accomplished without requiring unique software or configurations. The certification covers iPhones and iPads operating on iOS 26.
"Achieving secure digital advancement requires integrating information protection into the core design of mobile technologies," stated BSI President Claudia Plattner in Apple's announcement. "Building upon BSI's stringent review of the iOS and iPadOS systems and hardware for secure operations in Germany's classified settings, we are glad to verify alignment with the security criteria established by NATO member states."