Kaspersky Closes US Offices, Lays Off Staff Following Sales Ban

Russian cybersecurity vendor Kaspersky has made the “sad and difficult decision” to wind down operations in the United States following the recent ban on the use of its products on US soil.

The blockade – which Kaspersky claims is the result of geopolitical tensions and not actual proof that its products do any harm – was years in the making.

US federal agencies have long highlighted that Kaspersky is in Russia’s jurisdiction and must implicitly comply with the Kremlin’s requests, putting it in a position to exploit its software’s high administrative privileges and possibly impact national security.

‘Gradually wind down’

While it initially sought to fight the blockade, the security company realized such an effort might not be feasible.

As originally reported by Kim Zetter, citing unnamed sources, “Kaspersky Lab has told workers in its U.S.-based division that they are being laid off this week and that it is closing its U.S. business.”

The Russian outlet confirmed the news to Zetter, saying that, from July 20, it will “gradually wind down” operations in the US while also eliminating US-based positions because of the ban.

"The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the U.S. legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable," Kaspersky said.

The Russian biz, which last year reported global earnings of $721 million, says only around 10% of its sales come from business in the US.

While it did not disclose exactly how many US workers it is laying off, it did say the decision affects “less than 50 employees in the U.S.” According to Zetter, those laid off are receiving severances.

Stay protected

Kaspersky can still provide updates and technical support to US-based customers until Sept. 29, when the ban officially takes effect. Past that, the company can’t provide antivirus signature updates and codebase updates, meaning anyone still using Kaspersky products will be vulnerable to new and emerging threats.

The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) urges US citizens and organizations to keep their cyberguard up and seek trusted alternatives as soon as possible.

“Individuals and businesses that utilize Kaspersky software are strongly encouraged to expeditiously transition to new vendors to limit exposure of personal or other sensitive data to malign actors due to a potential lack of cybersecurity coverage,” the BIS said in June.

Bitdefender has been at the forefront of technology and innovation for two decades, consistently achieving top marks and awards from independent testers. If you’re making the switch, our solutions cover all attack scenarios and threats in today’s digital landscape.

Check out our comprehensive guide: A Seamless Transition: How to Migrate from Another Security Provider to Bitdefender in 3 Easy Steps.