On 17 February 2025, the Australian government issued a directive to stop using Kaspersky’s products and web services on all government systems and devices by 1st April 2025, citing risk related to foreign interference, espionage and sabotage.
The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster, emphasised the need for strong policy signal to mitigate unacceptable security risks Kaspersky poses to critical infrastructures and Australia governments.
ESET: Trusted Cybersecurity for Australia
As an EU vendor-of-choice, ESET ensures the highest standards for customer data security and protection. For over three decades, ESET has designed software for consumers and businesses using secure by design principles – ensuring its solutions are built with security and privacy at the point of inception, at its very core.
Why ESET?
- ESET has been recognized by leading analysts and peer review organizations in the cybersecurity space, including being named a 'Strategic Leader' in the rigorous AV-Comparatives Endpoint Prevention and Response 2024 Test.
- ESET has been instrumental in protecting organizations and governments from advanced cybersecurity threats. The company's solutions and world-class research are supported by 12 R&D centers and threat hunters around the world – providing real-time monitoring, threat analysis, and reporting on previously unseen threats and sophisticated advanced persistent threat (APT) group activities.
- ESET works with industry giants, government agencies and authorities worldwide to stop cyberthreats. This includes being a member of Europol’s Advisory Group on Internet Security to help to protect European citizens, businesses and governments from online crime. ESET is also a trusted member of the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), which was established in 2021 by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to leverage the power of the private sector, combined with the capabilities of the federal government, to protect the United States from cyber threats.
- In Australia, ESET is protecting thousands of business customers and has been working with key stakeholders, including the then Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O’Neill, to advance cybersecurity education by providing scholarships to aspiring undergraduates pursuing education STEM subjects.
Ensuring Compliance: Recommended Actions
Following the Australia government directive, organisations using Kaspersky should take proactive steps to ensure they remain protected and safe from foreign interference, espionage and sabotage.
- Assess your current use of Kaspersky software and plan transitioning to a trusted cybersecurity provider to ensure your cybersecurity defenses are reliable.
- Critical infrastructure organizations, their partners and users with access to high-risk data, organizational admin privileges and/or sensitive information may want to go one step further. Consider replacing devices that previously used Kaspersky products to guard against future risk.
- Stay informed by following updates from authorities to ensure compliance with the new regulations and maintain robust security measures.
In response to feedback from the market, ESET has launched competitive displacement programs and special promotions to support business customers, government entities and critical infrastructures operators who are looking to minimize the attack surface with next-gen, AI-native cybersecurity solutions. Making the switch as soon as possible will ensure that your systems remain protected and reliable. Early transition not only mitigates security risks but also avoids potential operational disruptions.
To facilitate the transition from Kaspersky, ESET is currently offering a discount of up to 40%. This promotion is designed to help make the switch as seamless and cost-effective as possible.