BlackBerry PlayBook Granted Government Security Clearance

 

PlayBook tablet receives security clearance

The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet was recently granted security clearance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the first tablet to receive such approval, according to InformationWeek.

The news source reports that the specific security clearance, called FIPS certification, is required if the device is to be used by the federal government, offering government agencies a new tool.

"This certification demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the needs of security-conscious organizations and enables the U.S. federal government to buy with confidence knowing that the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements for protecting sensitive information," Scott Totzke, senior vice president for BlackBerry security at Research In Motion (RIM), said in a statement, reports the news provider.

While the news source says it is unclear how many government agencies will readily adopt the new technology, the security clearance approval offers another option for qualified professionals holding defense and intelligence jobs across the country in agencies such as the Defense Security Service and the Department of Defense.