Russian cybersecurity giant Kaspersky is shutting down its United Kingdom office and laying off staff, following the closure of its U.S. operations earlier this year. This decision, revealed in a statement by company spokesperson Francesco Tius, comes as part of a reorientation strategy aimed at optimizing its business presence in the U.K. through a partner-driven approach.
In an email to TechCrunch, Tius shared that Kaspersky is winding down its UK operations and shifting its focus toward its partner network to pursue business opportunities more efficiently. “This step will enable our company to harness available business opportunities in the U.K. market in a more efficient manner, strengthening overall business prosperity,” the statement said. Despite the office closure, Kaspersky’s customers and partners in the U.K. will still have full access to the company’s European team and partner network, which will continue distributing the company’s cybersecurity products.
The decision impacts fewer than 50 employees in its London office, according to the company.
Challenges Facing Kaspersky
The U.K. closure is part of a series of operational struggles for Kaspersky, which has faced mounting pressure due to its alleged connections to the Russian government. Although the company has consistently denied these allegations, its reputation has been affected, particularly in Western markets.
In June, the U.S. government banned Kaspersky from selling its products in the U.S. market, citing security concerns. This action prompted Kaspersky to shut down its U.S. operations and lay off its employees in the country. The ban also led to the company exiting the U.S. market entirely, prompting it to transfer its American customer base to a newly established antivirus company called UltraAV.
Customer Impact and Controversy
Kaspersky’s withdrawal from the U.S. market was not without controversy. Many U.S. customers were surprised to find that Kaspersky had forcefully uninstalled itself from their computers and replaced its software with UltraAV without explicit user consent. While some users expressed confusion, Kaspersky defended its actions, maintaining that it had provided sufficient notice to customers, even if direct consent for the switch wasn’t obtained.
