iPhone and iPad are certified to handle classified NATO information without any third-party add-on solutions

Today, Apple announced that the iPhone and iPad have become the first consumer devices approved for use on NATO classified networks. This means that an off-the-shelf iPhone running iOS 26 can access restricted NATO data without requiring special security software or custom hardware modifications.

In a statement to 9to5Mac, Ivan Krstić, Apple’s vice president of Security Engineering and Architecture, said:

“This achievement sees Apple change the way security has traditionally been delivered. Before the iPhone, secure devices were only available to high-level government and business organizations after investing heavily in dedicated security solutions. Instead, Apple has built the world’s most secure devices for all of its users, and those same protections are now specifically certified under NATO certification requirements for nations, unlike any other device.”

How Apple got NATO certification

For many certifications like these, it’s not just about the release of a new operating system. It’s a long, ongoing process. The iPhone and iPad previously received permission to handle classified German government data using native iOS and iPadOS security measures. This happened after extensive testing, technical evaluation, and in-depth security analysis by the German Federal Office for Information Security (Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, or BSI). Now, building on that strong BSI approval, the iPhone and iPad running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 have been officially approved for such use in all NATO nations.

After that initial success, Apple took the next step. Devices running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are now officially listed in the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalog. This certification relies on key security features that are built into all modern iPhones and iPads:

• Best in class encryption
• Biometric authentication with Face ID and Touch ID
• Memory Integrity Enforcement is baked into Apple Silicon

“A secure digital transformation is only successful if information security is considered from the beginning in the development of mobile products,” said Claudia Plattner, president of BSI. “Extending on BSI’s rigorous testing of the iOS and iPadOS platform and device security for use in Germany’s classified information centers, we are pleased to ensure compliance under NATO nations’ certification requirements.”

9to5Mac take

Although most of us will never need access to NATO-restricted data, this certificate is important. It ensures the security structure of iPhone and iPad. Similarly when an organization achieves FedRAMP ATO for US government contracts, its business and commercial customers gain more confidence in the company’s security posture. The fact that Apple has achieved this certification with its “stock” iPhone and iPad hardware, without additional security software, is a testament to the incredible work Apple has done to build a strong security system while maintaining an excellent end-user experience.