In case you haven’t heard the news from Sydney Australia, here is the latest scoop.

The Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008 and System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) have obtained Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 4 (EAL4). This news follows successful completion of the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) Australasian Information Security Evaluation Program. The DSD is the Australian Government’s national authority for information security.

By meeting the security criteria for EAL4, Windows Mobile 6.1, System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008 and System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008 SP1 are accepted under the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) by Australia and 25 other countries worldwide including the United States.

The CCRA ensures that evaluations of IT products are performed to high and globally consistent standards. Thus, this certification provides government and enterprise customers with definitive information about the security features in Windows Mobile 6.1, and assurance that mobile workers can securely access sensitive data on information networks.

Windows Mobile 6.1, combined with System Centre Mobile Device Manager 2008, extends mobile security for government and enterprise customers with on-device file encryption and remote device wipe, in the event of theft or loss. Users can access corporate data and intranets with mobile VPN and manage mobile fleets similar to the way IT departments manage PCs.

Commenting on this certification milestone, Don Kerr, product marketing manager for Windows Mobile, said, “We are extremely proud of this successful Common Criteria evaluation as it offers widely recognised assurance that Windows Mobile delivers a very high level of security and protection of information networks.”

“Microsoft is committed to globally recognised evaluations and certification processes as a way of building trust in computing and providing customers in the public and private sectors with a more secure and reliable platform,” said Mr Kerr.

Mike Burgess, first assistant secretary, Information Security, Defence Signals Directorate, said, “We have worked very closely with Microsoft throughout this assessment process to ensure that Windows Mobile 6.1 meets the security needs for government and enterprise networks.”

“Our evaluation of emerging technology is rigorous, but ensures secure use in government systems. Government organisations and enterprises can be assured that Microsoft’s successfully evaluated products can be used to securely enable remote working. DSD looks forward to vendor interest in evaluating a hardware handset that will take advantage of Windows Mobile 6.1 to provide government with another secure option,” said Mr Burgess.

The 26 members included under the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA) are: Australia and New Zealand, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States.