Kaspersky, the prominent Russian cybersecurity company, is making significant changes to its operations in the United Kingdom. Just a few months after starting the process of closing its U.S. offices and letting go of numerous employees, Kaspersky has now decided to shut down its U.K. office as well, resulting in staff layoffs, according to information obtained by TechCrunch.
Francesco Tius, a spokesperson for Kaspersky, revealed in an email to TechCrunch that the company will be initiating a wind-down of its U.K. office operations, shifting focus towards the partner channel in the country.
In a statement, Tius stated, “This strategic decision will allow us to better exploit the business opportunities present in the U.K. market, enhancing overall business prosperity. Despite the changes, our customers and partners in the U.K. will continue to have access to our European team and our extensive partner network, ensuring the continuous distribution of Kaspersky’s top-notch cybersecurity products and services.”
The London office currently employs “less than 50 employees,” as confirmed by Tius.
This decision to cease operations in the U.K. adds to a string of challenges faced by Kaspersky, known for its alleged close ties to the Russian government, a claim the company vehemently denies. Following a ban by the U.S. government on the sale of Kaspersky products in the U.S., the company was forced to lay off staff and close its U.S. offices.
As a result of the sales ban, Kaspersky made an exit from the U.S. market and aligned with a new antivirus company, UltraAV, transferring its customer base to the new entity. Some customers were surprised by the transition, as Kaspersky was automatically uninstalled from their Windows computers and replaced with UltraAV.
Kaspersky justified this controversial move by claiming that customers were adequately informed, even if explicit consent was not sought to change antivirus software.
