I am not sure if this will shock the world but RIM’s BlackBerry 7 OS just got lauded for its security again by TÜV Rheinland i-sec GmbH. This certification means that RIM’s security functionality has been confirmed by yet another third party. This includes “range of security functionality”, “security functionality effectiveness against non-destructive physical access”, “security functionality effectiveness against access via user interfaces”, and “security functionality effectiveness against access via software installed on the device (apps).” Also interesting is that TÜV Rheinland recommended what I have been saying for ages which is “advanced secure wipe function for microSD cards that would complement the existing encryption capabilities available for external storage on BlackBerry smartphones.”
Check out the announcement below from RIM:
BlackBerry 7 OS Awarded TÜV Certification
Dusseldorf, Germany – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that the powerful BlackBerry® 7 Operating System (OS) has been independently evaluated and awarded a security certification by TÜV Rheinland i-sec GmbH. The TÜV Rheinland i-sed GmbH certification attests that the security functionalities which are integrated into the BlackBerry 7 OS provide an effective protection of data processed in the device and that a satisfactory security level is met based on the configuration settings recommended by TÜV Rheinland.
The BlackBerry 7 OS passed the checkpoint tests for “range of security functionality”, “security functionality effectiveness against non-destructive physical access”, “security functionality effectiveness against access via user interfaces”, and “security functionality effectiveness against access via software installed on the device (apps)”. TÜV Rheinland also made suggestions for further developments such as an advanced secure wipe function for microSD cards that would complement the existing encryption capabilities available for external storage on BlackBerry smartphones.
The certification is based on tests conducted by TÜV Rheinland as well as existing certifications including “Common Criteria EAL 4+ Maintenance Report BlackBerry® Device Software 7.0.0 v1.0 and referenced documents” and “FIPS 140-2 certification No. 1669.”
“As a market leader in delivering secure, mobile solutions, RIM is committed to achieving independent, third party approvals of the BlackBerry security architecture,” said Marcus Klische, BlackBerry Security Advisor at RIM. "We view security as being fundamentally important and we are proud that the BlackBerry 7 OS has been awarded with this certification."
Next Generation BlackBerry 7 OS
BlackBerry 7 powers the new generation of BlackBerry® smartphones and includes significant performance enhancements as well as many new features and functionality out of the box. It also notably features BlackBerry® Balance technology, allowing users to enjoy the full BlackBerry smartphone experience for both work and personal purposes without compromising the IT department’s need for advanced security and IT controls.
To find out more about BlackBerry security certifications, please visit www.blackberry.com/go/security
