iOS 6 granted FIPS 140-2, approved for U.S. government use

Move over, BlackBerry. iPhones and iPads running iOS 6 are now certified for low-level secure government use.

Apple's iOS 6 mobile operating system is now secure enough for low-level work in the U.S. government after it passed security certification.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which examines and tests mobile devices for security and validation purposes, granted the Apple mobile platform FIPS 140-2 certification (Level 1) last Friday. At this level, devices running the platform can be used in conjunction with the lowest level of security clearance.

It comes just days after the U.S. Department of Defense was reportedly in talks with Apple and Samsung in a bid to approve the two firms' devices for government use. It follows the dropping of an exclusive contract the Dept. of Defense's had with BlackBerry — then named Research in Motion — late last year.

The U.S. government's approval follows seven months after its U.K. counterpart first approved iOS 6-based iPhones and iPads. U.K. government workers are only allowed to use the devices for data deemed "restricted" or below.

More:

http://www.zdnet.com/ios-6-granted-fips-140-2-approved-for-u-s-government-use-7000015019/