In a significant security development, NATO has reportedly approved Apple's iPhone and iPad devices for handling classified information in limited environments, according to technology news sources. The approval marks the first time consumer electronic devices have met NATO's stringent security requirements for classified data handling.
According to reports from Swedish technology publications Feber and IDG.se, the approval came after security tests conducted by German authorities. The devices can now be used for "classified information in limited NATO environments" without requiring additional software or special configurations beyond normal settings.
prior to this approval, secure devices were only available to advanced government agencies and corporations after massive investments in custom security solutions
Apple's security chief Ivan Krstić reportedly stated in a press release that prior to this approval, secure devices were only available to advanced government agencies and corporations after massive investments in custom security solutions. The approval specifically applies to devices running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, the latest operating system versions at the time of the announcement.
The German government had previously approved the devices for handling sensitive information, and this approval has now been extended to other NATO member countries. This development represents a major achievement for Apple in the enterprise and government security markets, where consumer devices have traditionally faced significant barriers to adoption for classified work.