The designation follows BlackBerry’s Authority to Operate (ATO) certification and enables government users with a BlackBerry 10 smartphone connected with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to securely access email, data, apps and other DoD network resources.

BlackBerry was the first Mobile Device Management (MDM) provider to earn ATO and now becomes the only vendor with FOC certification. The granting of FOC completes BlackBerry’s security certification process with the DoD.

“As the first mobile provider to achieve FOC, BlackBerry continues to prove why we are the most trusted enterprise mobility platform,” said John Sims, President of Global Enterprise Services at BlackBerry. “BlackBerry worked side-by-side with DoD to help certify BlackBerry 10, offering the US Government an end-to-end mobile infrastructure that does not compromise on security and provides the most productive and collaborative mobile experience.”

One of the key features now available to DoD customers with a BlackBerry 10 smartphone is BlackBerry Balance technology, which allows users to instantly toggle between work and personal profiles.

BlackBerry Balance separates and secures work data from personal content, allowing the user to gain secure access to DoD network resources. BlackBerry 10 smartphones are the only DoD-approved smartphones with this capability.