Remember there was a period of time when BlackBerry phones were the choice of phones when it came to enterprise and governmental security? Now that BlackBerry’s out of the picture, it looks like Google is stepping in. The company has recently revealed that some of its Pixel phones have been approved for use by federal agencies.
Google’s Pixel phones approved by federal agencies
According to Google, the company has announced that some phones from its Pixel lineup have been approved for use by federal agencies . Google’s Pixel phones have been added to the Department of Defense Information Network Approved Products List. This basically certifies devices for use across US federal agencies. While this might sound like corporate bragging, there’s actually a compelling reason why regular users should pay attention.
The certification means Pixel phones have passed some of the most rigorous security testing imaginable. These devices need to defend against sophisticated cyber threats that go way beyond what typical hackers can throw at consumer devices. For everyday users, this translates to a phone with military-grade security protecting your personal data, banking apps, and private communications.
That being said, this doesn’t mean that Google’s Pixel phones are now the default phone of choice when it comes to conducting military operations. Instead, this means that federal employees are allowed to purchase a Google Pixel smartphone and use it for communications, as long as it does not require designated secure channels based on established protocols.
Google says that being placed on the DoDIN Approved Products List “establishes a crucial foundation of trust and enables government agencies to confidently procure Google Pixel phones, knowing they adhere to the highest security standards required.”
Making a play for Apple’s market share
Google should be proud of having its Pixel phones gaining governmental approval. The company isn’t exactly the biggest player in the smartphone space. However, having governmental approval could convince more people to buy its Pixel phones.
However, Google would be competing with the likes of Apple. Apple’s iPhones have long been approved and used within US federal agencies. The Cupertino company’s iPhones have passed various stringent and interoperability requirements. They have also passed the Security Technical Implementation Guides while also boasting security certifications like FIPS 140-2/3 for cryptographic modules.
Will Google replace and dominate the federal workplace? That’s hard to say. But for now, it looks like federal agencies will have more options when it comes to choosing an approved phone.
