Samsung’s enhanced security Knox devices have become the first Android hardware to be approved for internal use by the Department of Defense.

The Defense Information Systems Agency has finished testing the Samsung Galaxy devices using Knox and BB10 smartphones and tablets. Both have passed the stringent security tests, while approval for Apples iOS is also said to be is on its way.

Although BlackBerry has been the long-standing supplier of enhanced security handsets, with around 600,000 Pentagon officials making use of them, its dominance is now under threat. The Pentagon may be buying another 8m smartphones and tablets, with all three manufacturers looking for a piece of the action.

“This approval enables other government agencies and regulated industries such as health care and financial services to adopt Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets,” said JK Shin, president and CEO of IT and mobile communications at Samsung Electronics. “This is a significant milestone for Samsung as we work to grow our relationships within government and large corporate enterprises.” 

“BlackBerry 10 is ideal for our government customers because it offers a rich, highly responsive mobile computing experience, along with BlackBerry’s proven and validated security model – a combination that’s unmatched in the industry,” said Scott Totzke, SVP, BlackBerry Security at BlackBerry. “This approval will enable DoD customers to connect their BlackBerry Z10 or BlackBerry Q10 smartphones to DoD networks and securely access assets from work, while enjoying the wealth of consumer-oriented functionality that BlackBerry 10 brings to market.”