Kaspersky has successfully completed the Service Organization Control for Service Organizations (SOC 2) Type 1 audit. The final report, issued by one of the Big Four accounting firms, confirms that the development and release of Kaspersky’s threat detection rules databases (AV databases) are protected from unauthorized changes by strong security controls. In addition, the company is announcing new developments of its Global Transparency Initiative.

The Service Organization Controls (SOC) Reporting Framework is a globally recognized report for cybersecurity risk management controls, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to inform customers about effective design and implementation of security controls. Being a responsible and transparent company for its customers, Kaspersky has chosen this standard to demonstrate the trustworthiness of its product and the company’s commitment to the AICPA Trust Service Principles and Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.

The examination completed under the SSAE 18 standard (Statement of Standards for Attestation Engagements) includes internal controls over regular automatic updates of antivirus databases, created and distributed by Kaspersky for its products operating on Windows and Unix Servers. In its final report, the Big Four independent auditor identified suitability of the abovementioned controls and their appropriate operation on a specified date.

Following the terms of the contract, Kaspersky cannot disclose the name of the third-party Big Four auditor. Although the company can disclose the principal information about its abovementioned commitments and requirements in the SOC 2 Type 1 report upon request.

The audit was done as part of the Global Transparency Initiative, which Kaspersky announced in 2017, to further ensure its partners and customers that the company’s products and services are not only the best when it comes to protection from cyberthreats, but also treat customer data with the highest respect and care. Among other things the company is committed to relocating to Switzerland its data storage and processing for customers. As of today, the company has completed the second stage of its relocation for European users and plans to finalize this change by the end of 2019.

As well as data relocation, Kaspersky aims to have at least three transparency centers by 2020. The company continues support of its Bug Bounty Program and is working on several other projects aimed at increasing the company’s transparency and trustworthiness.

Bug Bounty Program: Kaspersky has been working continuously on the development of its Bug Bounty Program. Recently the company paid a $23,000 bounty – the biggest reward in the history of the program to date - to researchers from the Imaginary team for the discovery of a security issue. The bug was promptly fixed. Kaspersky thanks the Imaginary team for the report and their assistance in improving the company’s products.

Safe Harbor for vulnerability researchers: The company now supports the Disclose.io framework which provides Safe Harbor for vulnerability researchers concerned about negative legal consequences of their discoveries. Kaspersky understands that external experts provide valuable assistance by finding and reporting vulnerabilities in its products and is ready to provide additional guarantees for fair treatment of vulnerability reports.

Transparency Centers: The recently announced Transparency Center in Madrid is officially open to Kaspersky’s customers and partners, as well as government stakeholders, starting from June. As is the case at the Zurich facility, the company offers source-code reviews and tailored security briefings on the company’s data processing practices and functioning of its products.

Threat intelligence support for law enforcement agencies: Kaspersky, the first among cybersecurity vendors, announced an advanced free service for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). A unique and tailored approach developed to maximize their efforts in tackling borderless cybercrime, it consists of three components:

By providing the free offering to LEAs, the company aims to increase awareness of how Kaspersky services operate and how they can help fight cybercrime and sophisticated cyberthreats. More information about the service can be found here.

Kaspersky continues developing its Global Transparency Initiative and will be providing updates regularly.