Kaspersky Labs Shuts Down US Division, Lays Off All Employees. Know Why

Kaspersky Labs Layoffs: The closure will result in all employees working in the US division being asked to leave the company

Kaspersky Labs layoffs: Russia-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Labs is set to shut down its operations in the United States (US), as confirmed by the company to Zero Day. The closure will result in all employees working in the US division being asked to leave the company.

Government Concerns Prompt Exit

Kaspersky Labs is being forced out of the US market due to government concerns about its potential links to Russia. Beginning July 20, the US government has banned the sale of Kaspersky software, citing national security concerns over possible ties between the company and the Russian government. The US Department of Commerce announced the ban in June following a thorough investigation, though specific details of the investigation were not disclosed.

Impact on Users

As a result of the ban, Kaspersky's software will no longer be available for purchase in the US. Existing users may encounter issues with updates and malware protection.

Kaspersky's Response

In a statement, Kaspersky Labs described the decision to leave the US market as "sad" and "difficult," citing that business opportunities in the country are no longer viable. "The company has carefully examined and evaluated the impact of the US legal requirements and made this sad and difficult decision as business opportunities in the country are no longer viable," the statement read.

Employee Layoffs

Although the exact number of employees affected is not specified, Kaspersky Labs indicated that fewer than 50 workers in the US will be laid off.

Meanwhile, US-based Salesforce has reportedly laid off around 300 employees this month as part of a broader effort to streamline operations, underscoring the tech industry's focus on cost management. Bloomberg, citing an insider, reported the layoffs.

While the company confirmed the job cuts in a statement, it did not provide specific numbers. "Like any healthy business, we continuously assess whether we have the right structure in place to best serve our customers and fuel growth areas. In some cases, that leads to roles being eliminated," a spokesperson stated, according to the report.