https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • SDN/SD-WAN
    • Cloud
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Telephony/UC/Collaboration
    • Cable
    • Mobility & Wireless
    • Fiber/Ethernet
    • Data Centers
    • Backup & Disaster Recovery
    • IoT
    • Desktop
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Analytics
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Channel Research
    • Business Models
    • Distribution
    • Technology Solutions Brokerages
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Best Practices
    • Vertical Markets
    • Regulation & Compliance
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2022 NextGen 101 Rankings
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • From the Industry
    • Reports/Digital Issues
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • Channel Futures TV
  • EMEA
  • Channel Chatter
    • Back
    • People on the Move
    • New/Changing Channel Programs
    • New Products & Services
    • Industry Honors
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Advisory Boards
    • Industry Organizations
    • Our Sponsors
    • Advertise
    • 2023 Editorial Calendar
  • Awards
    • Back
    • 2022 MSP 501
    • Channel Influencers
    • Circle of Excellence
    • DE&I 101
    • Technology Advisor 101 (TA 101)
  • Events
    • Back
    • 2023 Call for Speakers
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • MSP Summit
    • Channel Partners Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
    • Industry Events
  • About Us
  • DE&I
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Agents
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • Channel Partners Events
 Channel Futures

Security


Russian Spies in Every PC? So Says Washington

  • Written by Channel
  • May 12, 2017
The impact is potentially damaging — but not unique.

By Larry Walsh

If you use Kaspersky Lab security products, you have a Russian spy in your office.

If you resell Kaspersky Lab security products or deliver them as services, you’re complicit in facilitating Russian spying.

That’s essentially the story line coming out of Washington, D.C., this week as government officials essentially denounced the Kaspersky Lab products as unsafe and, without proof, alleged the Russian software company is complicit with Kremlin foreign intelligence and espionage operations.

In a dramatic scene that Oliver Stone couldn’t have scripted better, Sen. Marco Rubio, during a regularly scheduled session of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, asked the head of five U.S. spy agencies and the newly minted acting FBI director whether they felt comfortable using Kaspersky Lab products. Down the line, all six said no.

In fact, Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats’ no was “resounding.”

At the same time the hearing was happening at the Capitol, Eugene Kaspersky – head of the company that bears his name – was participating in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session. News of the allegations from Washington crept into the discussion, and he responded in kind. 

“I would be very happy to testify in front of the Senate, to participate in the hearings and to answer any questions they would decide to ask me,” Kaspersky said. “I think that due to political reasons, these gentlemen don’t have an option, and are deprived from the opportunity to use the best endpoint security on the market without any real reason or evidence of wrongdoing from our side.”

Same Allegations, Different Year

Before proceeding, full disclosure: The 2112 Group has worked with Kaspersky Lab in the past on channel development and partner enablement.{ad}

Talk of Kaspersky Lab collusion with Russian intelligence agencies is nothing new. Eugene Kaspersky received his security training in the Glavnoje Razvedyvatel’noje Upravlenije (translated: Main Intelligence Agency) — commonly referred to as the GRU. Many of the managers at Kaspersky Lab are former Russian military or have held government positions. And Kaspersky Lab does work with the Russian government on security issues.

It would seem where there’s Russian smoke, there’s Kremlin fire. But this issue deserves a more critical look. My company, 2112, did such an inspection in 2015, the last time allegations circulated against Kaspersky Lab. We polled American and European security software resellers on their perceptions of security vendors’ trustworthiness, and here’s what we found (and the results remain relevant today):

(continued on next page)

{vpipagebreak}

  • Twenty-eight percent said a security vendor colluding with government intelligence agencies would prompt them to reconsider their partnership; 37 percent said they would likely consider ending their vendor partnership.
  • Two-thirds of respondents closely monitor reports of security vendors participating in government intelligence operations.
  • Thirty-nine percent rated security vendor trustworthiness as the most important partnership attribute, second only to product quality.
  • Nearly three-quarters believe a security vendor would hack a rival company to gain a competitive advantage.

Most significant is the perception of different vendors based on their origins. At the time of the poll, Kaspersky Lab was facing allegations that it hacked rivals to gain a competitive advantage and was cooperating with Russian intelligence. When asked about the impact of such allegations, 46 percent of resellers said the allegations would impact Kaspersky Lab marketability. However, when asked the same question about Symantec, McAfee, and other companies, only 22 percent said similar allegations would impact American vendors negatively.

The study found a distinct bias against Eastern European security vendors. While Kaspersky Lab is in the limelight because it’s the largest and most successful software company to come out of the former Warsaw Pact zone, other vendors in the region, including AVG Technologies (now Avast), BitDefender, and ESET, face similar trust biases.

And this isn’t a new phenomenon. In 2012, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a report labeling China-based IT vendors Huawei and ZTE Technologies as security risks and warned American corporations against using their networking gear. The fear was that Chinese manufacturers would plant back doors in their products to enable snooping by foreign intelligence.

After a 60 Minutes expose on Huawei (see below), 2112 took a poll and found that three-quarters of American resellers said they wouldn’t work with a foreign manufacturer labeled as a national security threat by the U.S. government. At the same time, 60 percent of poll respondents said increased foreign competition was fanning fears of security risks. And 69 percent said they believe foreign competition against domestic brands is good for the market.

{video}

Kaspersky Lab, for one, believes the new allegations are …

{vpipagebreak}

… political and economically motivated amid a climate of suspicion that the Russian government interfered with the U.S. presidential election.

“As a private company, Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage efforts,” said Kaspersky Lab in a statement. “The company has a 20-year history in the IT security industry of always abiding by the highest ethical business practices, and Kaspersky Lab believes it is completely unacceptable that the company is being unjustly accused without any hard evidence to back up these false allegations.”

Something to keep in mind is that the same suspicions of American companies exist on the other side of the fallen Iron Curtain. Russian companies hold the same biases against American companies. Moreover, the Russian government has called for the expansion of its domestic software industry and the displacement of Microsoft Office products out of security and economic concerns. {ad}

Will the new allegations against Kaspersky Lab hurt its business in the United States? If the data from previous 2112 polls is any indicator, the answer is yes. But should that be the end of the story? Definitely not. While the FBI confirms that it’s investigating Kaspersky Lab, it concedes that those probes have found nothing conclusive. Businesses will make decisions based on their technology needs and budget limitations. Likewise, governments will rattle their sabers to bolster their geopolitical interests.

My best advice: Proceed with healthy skepticism and always do what’s in the best interest of your business and customers.

Larry Walsh is CEO and chief analyst of The 2112 Group, a channel research and strategy firm. He’s a member of the Channel Partners editorial advisory board. Follow Larry on Twitter: @lmwalsh2112

Tags: Agents Regulation & Compliance Security

Most Recent


  • Leads and sales funnel
    New Aryaka Networks Program Gives Elite Channel Partners Lead Generation
    "We're going to start generating north of $2 million of pipeline [for partners] every single month," Craig Patterson told Channel Futures.
  • Dark Web, hacker
    Kaspersky Study: Dark Web Ads Offer Jobs, Careers in Cyber Crime
    Some dark web job ads included bonuses and commissions for successful projects.
  • Man's silhouette behind a transparent cell graphic and the letters RMM
    Hackers Use Legitimate RMM Software to Steal from Federal Employees
    Attacks on RMMs have caused "insurmountable" losses for SMBs.
  • INtelisys AMP'd Newport Beach 2023
    Intelisys AMP'd Images: Partners Explore B2B Purchasing Trends, CX, Security Solutions
    Customers "literally don't know" how their own buying journey works, and that's an opportunity for partners.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • USB drive
    A Coup and a Theft: Why MSPs Can’t Let Clients Get Lax About USB Security
  • Ransomware skull and crossbones
    JBS Did What it 'Needed to Do' with $11 Million Ransom Payment
  • hybrid clouds
    Nutanix, HPE Team on Hybrid, Multicloud via GreenLake
  • lone Arctic wolf
    Arctic Wolf Enhances Partner Program with 2 New Tiers

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

May 1, 2023 - May 4, 2023

Channel Partners Europe

June 13, 2023 - June 14, 2023

Channel Futures Leadership Summit

October 30, 2023 - November 2, 2023

Galleries

View all

Kaspersky Study: Dark Web Ads Offer Jobs, Careers in Cyber Crime

January 30, 2023

7 Channel People Making Waves This Week at 8×8, Intel, Google Cloud, RingCentral, More

January 27, 2023

Intelisys AMP’d Images: Partners Explore B2B Purchasing Trends, CX, Security Solutions

January 27, 2023

Industry Perspectives

View all

5 Things to Look for in a UC Partner

January 31, 2023

The Benefits of Hiring an Investment Bank

January 30, 2023

Make the Most of the Gift of Time in 2023

January 25, 2023

Webinars

View all

Next-Generation MSP Platform: The Building Blocks for Your Business

February 15, 2023

Security Secrets of the MSP 501: How to Be a Cyber Leader in 2023

December 15, 2022
  • 1

Cybersecurity Certifications: Their Evolving Role in the Fight Against Increasing Attacks

December 13, 2022

White Papers

View all

Overcoming Your Endpoint Security Limitations with a Skeleton Crew

October 25, 2022

Embracing the Zero Trust Mindset For Endpoints

October 24, 2022

Endpoints are the Destination

October 24, 2022

Channel Futures TV

View all

Coffee with Craig and James Episode 117: Cato Networks, Video Killed the Podcast Stars

Retired Astronaut Capt. Scott Kelly Previews His CP Expo Keynote

December 21, 2022

Fusion Connect Eyes Future with Intrado UC, Managed Network Customers

September 23, 2022

RingCentral Focused on Hybrid Work, Microsoft Teams, Other Integrations

September 23, 2022

Twitter

ChannelFutures

Unified communications (UC) technologies are essential in a continuously evolving digital world. @NEC_corp… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

As technology changes the face of business worldwide 🌍, Channel Futures is recognizing these 20 EMEA channel leader… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

With @AryakaChannel's latest elite program @intelisyscorp, @Avant_CCC, @BridgePointeTec, @telarus and their partner… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

With the expanded partner program, MSP enablement has grown from a three-person team at Datto to a 60-person team… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 31, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@Avant_CCC offers tips on #CPaaS sales, ideal customers and tech benefits on #ChannelFuturesTV.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 30, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@kaspersky study examines thousands of employment ads on the #DarkWeb. dlvr.it/ShhH2m https://t.co/zli195hsBz

January 30, 2023
ChannelFutures

.@IngramCloud makes important @Microsoft-related changes to its #cloudmarketplace. dlvr.it/ShhCpR https://t.co/0zwCkUOH5z

January 30, 2023
ChannelFutures

A @NICELtd - @Cognizant partnership promises to accelerate customer adoption of advance #CX solutions.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 30, 2023

MSP 501

The industry's largest and most comprehensive partner awards program.

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Galleries

Educational slide shows and images from live events.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Events
  • Telecoms.com
  • MSP 501
  • Black Hat
  • IoT World Today
  • Omdia

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X