Mobile devices from Korean electronics giant Samsung have been approved for classified U.S. government use. This marks the first time that consumer devices, validated by the NSA-managed National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) standard, have been approved to handle U.S. classified information, according to a Samsung announcement.
Based on the specifications in 10 Memoranda of Agreement between the government and the company, the government added 10 devices to its Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Program Component List: The Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition), Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Tab S 8.4, Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and the Galaxy IPSEC Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client.
In its announcement, Samsung attributed the development to "Samsung's successful testing and certification under the U.S. government's Common Criteria Mobile Device Fundamental Protection Profile (MDFPP) and VPN Protection Profile (VPNPP) programs."
Samsung mobiles were added earlier this year to DISA's approved list for sensitive but unclassified use.
"The inclusion of Samsung mobile devices on the CSfC list proves the unmatched security of Samsung Galaxy devices supported by the KNOX platform," said J.K. Shin, chief of Samsung's mobile division.
