BlackBerry 10 Receives NATO Security Clearance

BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 (BES) have been approved by NATO to handle classified communications up to the level of ‘restricted’, becoming the first mobile operating system and mobile device management (MDM) platform to receive the certification by the organisation.

It now means that all 28 member states in North America and Europe can use BlackBerry 10 smartphones in the office or in the field – if they want to.

BlackBerry said the certification is a milestone for the beleaguered company and it will inspire confidence in governments and other organisations that handle sensitive data in its products.

BlackBerry 10 security

“We built the new BlackBerry 10 platform from the ground up with the highest security needs of our government and enterprise customers in mind,” said Scott Totzke, senior vice president of security at BlackBerry. “The fact that BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry 10 smartphones have been approved for classified communications just months after debut, is testament to the thoroughness of its design and our commitment to our defence and government customers.”

The certification is a rare piece of good news for BlackBerry, which recently announced quarterly losses of £600 million and plans to cut 4,500 jobs ahead of a possible sale to a consortium led by its largest shareholder, Fairfax Holdings.

BlackBerry was once considered the market leader in enterprise smartphones, but has seen its lead in security and administration features eroded by the likes of Apple and Samsung, while consumers have been tempted away by more user-friendly devices.

BlackBerry 10 has failed to reverse the Canadian manufacturer’s fortunes, but it has received plenty of endorsements from various government departments regarding its security credentials.

It has been suggested that BlackBerry’s future could involve offering its security features to other mobile platforms. Earlier this year it announced it was offering BlackBerry Secure Work Space to Android and iOS devices, allowing administrators to control confidential data without removing any smartphone functionality.

BlackBerry has had a bumpy year! Try our 2013 BlackBerry quiz!