On Thursday June 20th, the Biden administration issued an immediate ban on the sale of all Kaspersky security software in the United States. Starting September 29th, Kaspersky is also barred from providing software updates to existing customers, including consumers, government entities, and business organizations. Consequently, it is now illegal to sell, integrate, or license any Kaspersky cybersecurity software on national security grounds.
The U.S. Bureau of Information Security has identified several critical risk factors contributing to this decision. The primary concerns are the threats posed by the Russian Federation and the vulnerabilities that Kaspersky's ICTS (Information and Communications Technology and Services) products create for U.S. national security.
ESET: Trusted Cybersecurity for Customers Facing Change
As an EU vendor-of-choice, ESET ensures the highest standards for customer data security and protection. It 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 2023 Test.
With over 30 years of experience, 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's research is published on WeLiveSecurity, a leading cybersecurity blog, and in regular threat and APT reports.
ESET is 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. As part of the JCDC, ESET collaborates with cyber defenders from organizations worldwide to enable synchronized, holistic cybersecurity planning, defense, and response by gathering, analyzing, and sharing actionable cyber risk information.
ESET also recently signed CISA’s Secure by Design pledge at RSA 2024, joining global technology leaders who are committed to design products with greater security built in. 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.
Ensuring Compliance: Recommended Actions
Following the US Government ban, ESET understands that Kaspersky customers might be concerned about next steps to ensure they stay protected and fortify their defenses.
- Review your current use of Kaspersky software and plan to transition to a trusted cybersecurity provider before the September 29 deadline to ensure your cybersecurity defenses are up to date.
- 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 cybersecurity 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 channel, business customers and consumers 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 compliant with U.S. national security requirements. Early transition not only mitigates security risks but also avoids potential legal and operational disruptions.
To facilitate the transition from Kaspersky, ESET is currently offering a 50% discount. This promotion is designed to help make the switch as seamless and cost-effective as possible.