14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that its Windows 10 operating system and the Surface tablet have been cleared for classified use by the National Security Agency (NSA).
The Surface is the only Windows 10 device that made NSA’s list, and Microsoft says that this only proves that the security its software + hardware combo provides is at the highest level and US authorities can confirm it.
Getting the go-ahead for classified use is a big win for Microsoft, as this move means that the company can sign contracts with government agencies and implement Windows 10-based solutions, as well as the Surface in various state departments.
US DoD also installing Windows 10 on 4 million devices
“Our customers are the most security-conscious in the world and demonstrating our commitment to meeting their needs is incredibly important to us,” the firm said.
“Today, I’m excited to share that both Windows 10 and Surface devices including Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book have been added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified Programs (CSfC) list. The CSfC program listing demonstrates Windows 10, as well as Surface devices (the only Windows 10 devices currently on the list), when used in a layered solution, can meet the highest security requirements for use in classified environments.”
Microsoft is betting big on government contracts, and the company recently signed a deal with the United States Department of Defense (US DoD) to install Windows 10 on 4 million devices.
At the same time, Redmond is also working with other organizations across the world to make the switch to the new operating system, and with the NSA giving its blessing to Windows 10 and Surface adoption, the number of such deals is expected to grow even more.
Microsoft is also investing in Windows security technologies, and the company is projected to discuss its latest efforts at the RSA security conference next week when it’ll detail what’s to come for enterprises in the Creators Update due in April.