Windows Phone 8 Gets Key US Government Security Certificate

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Kaylene Hong

Kaylene Hong was Asia Reporter for The Next Web between 2013 and 2014, based in Singapore. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin. Stay in (show all) Kaylene Hong was Asia Reporter for The Next Web between 2013 and 2014, based in Singapore. She is bilingual in English and Mandarin. Stay in touch via Twitter or Google+.

Microsoft announced today that its Windows Phone 8 operating system has received a key government security certification from the US, which would help boost its standing among US and Canadian government customers.

Getting the FIPS 140-2 certificate means the government has authorized the cryptographic algorithms used by Windows Phone 8 to protect sensitive data inside its products. It is a detailed process that requires strict security compliance.

All in all, Windows Phone 8 has received accreditation for nine cryptographic certificates — which is important to it considering its enterprise focus, as businesses and government sectors tend to zoom in on such security reassurances.

A few of Samsung’s devices have received the FIPS 140-2 certificate as well last year, and BlackBerry earned it for the BlackBerry 10 platform back in November last year before it even launched.

Headline image via Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images