Blog

On June 20th, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce announced a national ban on Kaspersky software. According to Forbes, President Biden ordered the immediate suspension of sales and updates of Kaspersky products for American users, businesses, and organizations. The ban also affects security updates for existing customers. Starting from July 20th, Kaspersky will terminate all sales and integration of its cybersecurity software in U.S., and by September 29th, it will stop updating the previously purchased software. 

The rationale behind these drastic measures is that a review of Kaspersky's cybersecurity transactions and devices by the BIS found that they posed "unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and the security and safety of its citizens". This is not the first time that the U.S. government has targeted Kaspersky. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security issued a directive requiring federal agencies to remove and discontinue the use of Kaspersky products on federal information systems. Moreover, in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, the issue of American data security resurfaced.

As IBSCY Ltd, we want to stay ahead of the developments and inform our clients about the U.S. cybersecurity changes. In case there are further issues between the U.S. and Europe regarding Kaspersky, we can help our U.S.-related clientele plan and implement their cybersecurity strategies. Additionally, we can offer our customers the opportunity to explore new alternatives for ensuring their organization's cybersecurity.