The US Department of Defense, which has been preparing to allow its employees to use iPhones and certain Android devices for some time, is expected to grant security approval for devices from Apple and Samsung in the coming weeks. There will be separate security approvals for iOS and Samsung Galaxy device. DoD employees will be allowed to use iPhones and iPads for non-classified communications like email. According to the Wall Street Journal:
Separately, DISA is expected to rule that Apple's latest operating system, iOS 6, conforms to a different security-requirement guide, these people said. That would allow iPhones and iPads to be used by military agencies for nonclassified communications, like email and Web browsing.
Apple’s devices are perceived by the department as more secure than Samsung’s because of the proprietary nature of iOS, while Android is open source. Previously, the Defense Department had been a BlackBerry-only organization, and though BlackBerry’s older devices will continue to be used, the company will need to get approvals for their new Z10 and Q10 smartphones. The DoD is just the latest government agency to move towards accepting more devices, echoing the trend found in private sector companies.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
