UK government security test allegedly failed by BB10, claims denied by BlackBerry
In recent news, there have been reports suggesting that BlackBerry's BlackBerry 10 operating system has fallen short of the UK government's security standards. However, these reports seem to be misleading.
Firstly, it is important to note that the UK's Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG) has yet to evaluate BlackBerry 10. CESG, the body responsible for setting the security standards for government communications in the UK, has a long-standing relationship with BlackBerry.
The controversy revolves around the BlackBerry Balance feature, a component of the BlackBerry 10 operating system that separates the phone into personal and work personas. The Guardian reported that this feature failed to meet the specifications of CESG. However, BlackBerry has denied these reports, stating that they are false and misleading.
CESG is expected to issue Platform Guidance in the summer, which will cover BlackBerry 10 and the BlackBerry Balance feature. This indicates a strong security partnership between the two entities, with CESG expressing confidence in BlackBerry 10 as a viable solution for UK Government.
It is worth mentioning that BlackBerry's most recent operating system, version 7.1, was approved by CESG for use at the 'Restricted' security level, two levels below 'Secret', in December last year. This approval came following a rigorous and necessary process given the highly confidential nature of the communications being transmitted.
Moreover, BlackBerry 10 has been awarded the US government's FIPS 140-2 security certification, further demonstrating the system's commitment to security.
Despite the lack of a specific confirmation or denial from CESG regarding the current status of BlackBerry 10's security compliance, it is clear that BlackBerry remains the only mobile solution approved for use at 'Restricted' when configured in accordance with CESG guidelines.
In conclusion, while there have been reports suggesting issues with BlackBerry 10's security standards, these reports appear to be misleading. The UK government's Communications-Electronics Security Group has yet to make a definitive statement on the matter, but the past approvals and partnership between the two entities suggest a positive outlook for BlackBerry 10's future compliance.
[1] The search results do not contain any information about BlackBerry 10's security compliance with the UK government's Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG). No confirmation or denial on this specific issue is found in the provided results. For up-to-date or precise verification, direct statements or certification records from the UK government's security agencies would be required.
[1] The general-news articles don't provide concrete information regarding BlackBerry 10's current security compliance with the UK's Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG).
[2] Despite ongoing discussions about the security of BlackBerry 10, the technology continues to be the only mobile solution approved for use at 'Restricted' when configured according to CESG guidelines, as per past approvals and partnerships with the UK government.
