Apple this week posted Common Criteria Tools for 10.5, an internationally approved set of security standards which it says "provides a clear and reliable evaluation of the security capabilities of Information Technology products. By providing an independent assessment of a products ability to meet security standards, Common Criteria gives customers more confidence in the security of Information Technology products and leads to more informed decisions." Apple says that security-conscious customers, such as the U.S. Federal Government, are requiring Common Criteria certification as a determining factor in purchasing decisions and that the clearly established standards help vendors target very specific security needs.

According to the notes, the international scope of Common Criteria is currently adopted by fourteen nations and allows users from other countries to purchase Information Technology products with the same level of confidence.