Bittium receives security classification for Tough Mobile smartphone

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 organsation’s capability to secure classified information of authorities.

Bittium Tough Mobile designed for the Confidential classification level has a 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.

”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 organisations. 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,” said Aki Tauriainen, Chief Inspector of Audits and Accreditation of the National Cyber Security Centre-Finland.

”We have been persistent in developing our know-how in information security by focusing on the uncompromised security of wireless connections. On the other hand, we are also the only smartphone manufacturer who designs and makes their phones entirely in Europe, Finland. This unique information security expertise combined with proficiency in terminals creates conditions for producing devices with overall security and integrating security features deep within the hardware and source code,” said Jari Sankala, Senior Vice President, Defense & Security at Bittium. “An excellent proof of the strength of this combination is the world’s first Confidential level information security classification given to a system that is based on a smartphone.”

Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone includes several features that have been designed for authorities and other professional uses where reliable and secure communication is needed. The Android-based device has a mechanical structure that is a combination of durability and the usability of a modern and advanced smartphone. Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone incorporates a hardware-based security platform, global support for LTE frequencies, professional level audio features, and the possibility to use two different SIM cards.

Bittium Secure Suite is a device management and encryption software product that complements Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone with a scalable set of new software services for remote management, remote attestation and securing the network connections of the device. Bittium Tough Mobile smartphone and Bittium Secure Suite together form a reliable system for processing and transferring encrypted and classified material, and securing critical communications.