Kaspersky Ban Slows US Usage, Other Countries Drop Faster
The ban on Kaspersky products has had a significant impact on their usage worldwide. While the US experienced a notable reduction, other countries saw a faster decline despite not imposing outright bans.
The US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security issued a ban on Kaspersky Lab, Inc. in April 2024 due to alleged ties with the Russian regime. Despite this, 19 US government entities continued to use Kaspersky products. However, the ban has led to a substantial drop in global usage, with a fall of around two-thirds between April and November 2024.
Countries like Germany, the UK, and Italy, which did not impose outright bans, saw a faster decline in Kaspersky usage compared to the US. This suggests that public policy and consumer sentiment play a significant role in technology adoption and abandonment. In the US, 40% of organizations observed using Kaspersky products before the ban still use them, indicating a slower response to the ban.
The ban on Kaspersky products has led to a significant reduction in their usage, with varying impacts across countries. Policymakers now face the challenge of effectively measuring current technology usage within their borders to mitigate supply chain risks and ensure trust in technology providers. Kaspersky, which denied Kremlin influence, announced in July 2024 that it would be winding down its US business operations.
