Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab has announced that it will be gradually winding down its operations in the United States following a ban imposed by the Department of Commerce. The ban prohibits the firm from selling its products in the US, leading to the decision to lay off its US-based employees.
The shutdown of Kaspersky Lab's US operations is set to commence on July 20, marking the end of nearly two decades of the company's presence in the country. In a statement, the company expressed that the decision was made due to the impact of US legal requirements, rendering business opportunities in the country unviable.
The Department of Commerce had recently announced the ban on the sale and provision of Kaspersky software in the US, citing national security concerns. US officials have raised suspicions that the Russian government could potentially exploit Kaspersky's anti-virus software for surveillance purposes, a claim vehemently denied by Kaspersky.
With over 400 million users and 240,000 companies globally utilizing Kaspersky Lab's software products, the extent of its US customer base remains unclear. While US government agencies were already prohibited from using Kaspersky Lab software, the Commerce Department's move to prevent the sale of the software in the US represents a significant development.
Founded in Moscow in 1997, Kaspersky Lab has emerged as a prominent player in the cybersecurity industry, alongside American competitors like McAfee and Symantec. The company's researchers are renowned for their expertise in analyzing hacking operations linked to various governments and cybercriminal threats affecting users worldwide.
Despite the closure of its US operations, Kaspersky Lab has affirmed its commitment to investing in strategic markets and serving its customers and partners to ensure their protection.
