Kaspersky customers are “scared” as the US government eyes potential sanctions against the security outfit.
CRN has been chatting to one unnamed Kasperky’s partner who is worried that customers who are coming up for renewal are looking elsewhere.
“Customers that are coming up for renewal are obviously looking elsewhere—they’re scared”, said one solution provider CEO who partners with Kaspersky and declined to be identified. “People don’t know if this is just some kind of geopolitical BS? Or is there really something there? They’re thinking, ‘Well, if I’ve chosen Kaspersky, is my boss going to fire me if something happens?’ Just the optics right now, it’s troubling.”
“The board of directors of Kaspersky clients are saying, ‘We are not going to use this anymore. Find something else.’ I mean, it’s no different—or I guess it’s a little different—to people pouring out Russian vodka. ‘Hey, if it’s got a Russian stamp on it, let’s get it out. I don’t want to get cancelled,’” said the CEO. “It’s a no-win situation for everybody.”
The National Security Council has pressed the Treasury Department to ready sanctions against Kaspersky amid longstanding allegations that the Russian government could exploit Kaspersky’s technology to install malicious software on the networks of its customers.
Kaspersky has said it strongly denies the accusations along with alleged links to Russian intelligence services.
“The US Government’s lack of response to Kaspersky’s good faith outreach, while proceeding to take actions to further limit Kaspersky, clearly indicates that such regulatory restrictions are political decisions based on speculation rather than facts”, Kaspersky told CRN in an emailed statement.
