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The iPhone and iPad are the first and currently the only consumer devices to receive NATO approval for handling sensitive information. This means that Apple devices running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 can be used to process data classified up to NATO Restricted without the need for specialized software or additional settings.
NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, an intergovernmental military alliance of 32 nations, including the United States. According to Apple, its devices meet information security requirements, which is a government certification that no other mobile device has ever received.
This decision follows previous approvals granted by Germany, which allowed the use of standard iOS and iPadOS security mechanisms to work with government restricted information. Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) conducted a comprehensive technical assessment, extensive testing and in-depth security analysis to confirm that the built-in security features of the iPhone and iPad meet the requirements of NATO member states.
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“Secure digital transformation is only successful if information security is taken into account from the very beginning of mobile product development,” said Claudia Plattner, BSI spokesperson. – “Based on BSI’s thorough security audit of the iOS and iPadOS platforms and devices for use in Germany’s classified information environments, we are pleased to confirm compliance with NATO security requirements.
The approval means that iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 are now included in NATO’s Information Security Product Catalog. This allows the devices to be used for secure access to email, calendars and contacts through applications designed for iPhone and iPad. The iPhone is considered one of the most secure smartphones on the market thanks to its strong encryption, Face ID biometric authentication, which is used, among other things, to confirm payments, the Secure Enclave hardware module and the Memory Integrity Enforcement mechanism.
In addition to the basic security mechanisms, Apple has integrated features for end users, including Stolen Device Protection, which adds an additional layer of security in case of loss or theft of a device, and Lockdown Mode, designed for users who may be targeted by cyberattacks. The latest iOS 26.3 update also introduced a new privacy feature that makes it impossible for mobile operators to determine the exact location of a user.
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