With the solution, it is possible to create and process classified information, as well as transfer it between the smartphone and connected back-end solutions

The National Cyber Security Centre-Finland of the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority has granted approval for the Mobile Security and Public Safety targeted Bittium Tough Mobile LTE-smartphone and related Bittium Secure Suite back-end system to process material that is classified nationally as Confidential.

Bittium’s mobile solution is the first one in the world to receive official Confidential level encryption product classification. The mobile solution can be used for creating and processing classified information, as well as for transferring it between smartphone and connected back-end solutions.

In order for a phone and a related back-end system to achieve the Confidential level classification, there are specific information security requirements regarding the processing of classified information, secure wireless transfer of files, and other possible communication, which need to be met.

Bittium Tough Mobile LTE smartphone and its back-end system designed for this classification level include features that have been hardened based on the Katakri 2015 requirements, such as, hardened operating system, hardened user identification, and data transfer.

Katakri 2015 is an information security auditing tool used by the Finnish authorities for evaluating an organization’s capability to secure classified information of authorities.

Bittium Tough Mobile designed for the Confidential classification level has a unique dual-boot functionality that makes Bittium Tough Mobile a device with two completely separate operating modes, Public and Confidential. The Public operating mode is meant for personal use where e.g. social media applications are freely available.

The Confidential operating mode is completely separated from the public mode, hardened for secure use, and meant for demanding use cases of authorities and other users requiring high-level of information security. This dual-boot functionality enables both personal and professional use with high-level information security with the same device. The user himself can switch between the two different modes.

Aki Tauriainen, chief inspector of Audits and Accreditation of the National Cyber Security Centre-Finland, said: "The approval of Bittium Tough Mobile and Bittium Secure Suite back-end system as an encryption product enables even more extensive use of the of the solution in different governmental organizations.

"The ability to process Confidential level (STIII) classified information with a smartphone creates new and more agile ways of communicating and improving data transfer in the mobile environment. The dual-boot functionality of Bittium Tough Mobile now also enables integration of several different classification level environments with the same terminal."