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iPhone and iPad are approved to handle NATO "restricted" classified data.
This approval applies to standard consumer devices running iOS 26.
Apple's built-in security met NATO-level assurance requirements.
Ahead of its March event, Apple has announced that NATO decided the iPhone and iPad are secure enough for classified work.
The devices are now officially approved to handle classified NATO information up to the "restricted" level. This is not about specialized, rugged phones built for the military or locked-down, government-only hardware. It applies to regular iPhones and iPads running standard iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. According to Apple, no other consumer devices have this distinction.
Also: How to turn on Lockdown Mode on iPhone
While "restricted" is the lowest classified tier, below confidential and secret, it's still classified data. For years, the assumption was that consumer phones simply could not be trusted at that level. Apple has proven otherwise.
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