Kaspersky, a renowned global cybersecurity company, announced it has opened its inaugural Transparency Center in Africa. The new facility, situated in Kigali, Rwanda, is part of Kaspersky’s broader Global Transparency Initiative, aimed at emphasising the reliability of the company’s solutions and advocating for increased transparency within the cybersecurity industry.
The Transparency Center offers an immersive experience for visitors, providing a comprehensive overview of Kaspersky’s engineering and data processing practices. Notably, it includes a live demonstration of the source code for Kaspersky’s products and services, allowing stakeholders to gain firsthand insights into the technology behind the cybersecurity solutions.
The expansion into the African region comes at a crucial time as internet penetration in the continent has seen steady growth, reaching 36% in 2022, according to the World Bank. Aligned with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy, which aims to digitally empower all Africans by 2030, Kaspersky’s Transparency Center stands poised to play a pivotal role in supporting the evolving digital landscape.
Designed to cater to Kaspersky’s partners, customers, and cybersecurity regulators, the Transparency Center provides a unique “blue piste” review option. This feature, popular among Transparency Centers’ visitors since the first facility’s opening in 2018, allows for an interactive overview of Kaspersky’s engineering and data processing practices. Visitors, including partners and customers, can engage with Kaspersky experts to inquire about data processing procedures and the functioning of the company’s solutions.
Moreover, the “blue piste” review option enables visitors to enhance their skills in assessing the security of ICT products used by their organizations. This aligns with Kaspersky’s Cyber Capacity Building Program, offering valuable insights for government organizations, academia, and companies to fortify their cybersecurity measures.
The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) welcomed the Transparency Center, emphasizing the critical intersection between transparency and combating cybercrime. AFRIPOL’s Acting Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, commended Kaspersky’s commitment to openness and its exemplary Global Transparency Initiative.
With the opening of the Transparency Center in Kigali, Kaspersky expands its global network to include a total of 11 Transparency Centers across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Genie Sugene Gan, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Asia-Pacific, Japan, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa regions at Kaspersky, highlighted the company’s dedication to addressing the local market needs in Africa. The Transparency Center is poised to bridge the gap in cyber-capacity building, providing education and promoting secure development processes.
Kaspersky’s Global Transparency Initiative, launched in 2017, demonstrates the company’s pioneering role in fostering digital trust. By actively involving the broader community and becoming the first cybersecurity vendor to disclose its source code for external review, Kaspersky continues to set industry benchmarks in transparency and cybersecurity best practices.
