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The Russian anti-virus company is exiting the US market after the sale of its products was banned by the US Department of Commerce.
Russian anti-virus firm Kaspersky has confirmed it is closing down its United States division in the wake of a decision to ban the sale of its products from 20 July – just a few days away.
Kaspersky confirmed the news of its impending US closure with the website Zero Day, saying it will “gradually wind down” its business in the country.
“The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the US legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable,” the company said in a statement to Zero Day.
According to Kaspersky, the closure “affects less than 50 employees in the US”. According to workers who have contacted Zero Day, they will receive severance packages, but the nature of those packages remains unknown.
The US Commerce Department announced the ban on the sales and support of all Kaspersky anti-virus products on 21 June, citing concerns over potential Russian interference.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to a whole-of-government approach to protect our national security and out-innovate our adversaries,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement at the time.
“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponise sensitive US information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard US national security and the American people. Today’s action, our first use of the Commerce Department’s ICTS authorities, demonstrates Commerce’s role in support of our national defence and shows our adversaries we will not hesitate to act when ... their technology poses a risk to the United States and its citizens.”
The Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services, or OICTS, is nested within the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security and is responsible for evaluating whether or not communications or information technologies “pose an undue or unacceptable national security risk”.
US organisations that use Kaspersky products and services have until 29 September to find alternatives.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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