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Kaspersky Reinforces Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility in First ESG Report

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In its first Sustainability (ESG) report, Kaspersky revealed projects and initiatives implemented to reduce its carbon footprint, narrow the gender gap, and continue to educate the public about the basics of cybersecurity.

The report, released in accordance with the GRI and SASB international standards, focuses on the results of the company’s sustainable development for 2021 and the first six months of 2022.

Building a safe and sustainable digital world has been Kaspersky’s main goal for a quarter of a century. At the same time, the company has been focused on creating positive long-term change by continuously implementing socially significant activities to ensure that a safer tomorrow is more sustainable too.

The company’s Sustainability report is grounded on five key areas of sustainable development: safer cyberworld, ethics and transparency, future tech, people empowerment, and safer planet.

“Implementing a sustainability strategy is an integral step for us as a company that strives to make the world better. Kaspersky sees the fulfillment of its mission first of all in making the digital space more resilient to threats by building Cyber Immunity.

However, being a global socially responsible company, we cannot ignore a need to tackle challenges, which include reducing our carbon footprint, tackling the lack of cybersecurity basics and cyber-hygiene, narrowing the gender gap and leading transparency in cybersecurity.

We believe that business’ contribution to building a sustainable agenda is essential, and only by uniting efforts we can ensure a better tomorrow for future generations,” commented Maria Losyukova, Head of Sustainability.

Reducing the negative impact on the environment

Kaspersky supports the industry’s trend on continuous adoption of Electronic Software Distribution (ESD): the company has halved its production of tangible products and has been driving digital sales, which has a lower impact on the environment.

In addition, by implementing a more conscious business trip organisation process and decreasing their overall number, the amount of air emissions was reduced by 81% between 2019 and 2021.

Moreover, the company maintains energy savings of its data centers and uses only modern power consumption and power supply technologies in its equipment. Kaspersky also has a number of internal initiatives in different business units focused on developing a more responsible approach to environmental issues.

These include holding educational activities about carbon footprint minimisation, switching to more sustainable marketing materials, setting up more eco-effective office infrastructure, and recycling activities for employees aimed at gathering waste fractions that are not subject to household processing.

Taking care of the employees and nurturing new talents

People are the most valuable asset of the company, which is why Kaspersky does everything possible for the team to thrive.

In 2022, the Employee Net Promoter Score® (eNPS) that measures employee satisfaction within the organisation has increased and amounted to 53% in total.

During the reporting period, the company has constantly been expanding its portfolio of internal courses for employees, offering more than 100 professional development courses. Over 40% of employees have already taken up this opportunity by taking at least one course.

Moreover, Kaspersky has a highly diversified corporate volunteer program, which enables its employees to engage in socially responsible activities, including fundraising, pro bono work, blood donations, and sports activities.

In addition, the company continued to work on promoting a diverse workforce and reducing the gender imbalance: 26% of the company’s employees are women, of which 17% work in R&D.

This lines up with the employment distribution in the rest of the industry. The company’s goal is to further inspire women to pursue careers in IT.

Furthermore, Kaspersky is investing in nurturing new talent by maintaining the development of the company’s educational division, Kaspersky.Academy, which has over 100 partner universities around the globe.

It is also continuing to organise the Secur’IT Cup, a student competition of cybersecurity projects in which more than 6,000 students from all over the world have participated since 2018.

Maintaining users’ trust

Ensuring maximum transparency with regards to products, internal and business processes is a vital element in digital security.

Kaspersky has been following a comprehensive approach to user data privacy, consisting of employee training and standardisation of data handling in each country where its users are present.

Every year since 2019, the company has certified its data management systems to the ISO/IEC 27001 international standard, confirming their high level of protection.

Moreover, Kaspersky continued to make additional efforts within the Global Transparency Initiative, and opened three more Transparency centers in the reporting period. There customers can review the company’s source code.

Kaspersky also relocated cyberthreat related data-processing for users in APAC, Latin America and the Middle East to Switzerland. Overall, the company has invested $5.6 million since 2018 in building a data infrastructure in Switzerland.

Keeping up the fight for secure tomorrow

Kaspersky has been continuously contributing to the global fight against cybercrime by cooperating with international law enforcement agencies and intergovernmental organisations.

During the reporting period, Kaspersky participated in around 30 joint cybersecurity events with stakeholders all over the world, and helped to disrupt a high-profile cybercriminal gang by sharing threat intelligence information and technical expertise.

Kaspersky has also been working to educate and protect those in need constantly, developing special courses such as TRAPEZE, an educational course aimed at teaching the older generation, and DeStalk for female victims of domestic violence, supported by the European Commission.


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E-Business

Firm Shares Tips for Safer Remote Working

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It is holiday season in many parts of the world. These days though, going on holiday does not always mean turning your back on office life – hybrid work cuts both ways.

Today’s widespread connectivity—available at airports, train stations, restaurants, hotels, and most indoor public spaces—makes staying connected easier than ever, with free Wi-Fi in many locations and reliable 4G or 5G coverage elsewhere, helping to facilitate a seamless blend of work and leisure even while on holiday.

This increase in connectivity among travellers has not gone unnoticed by cyber criminals. Kaspersky experts analysed nearly 25,000 free Wi-Fi spots in Paris ahead of the Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The analysis revealed that almost 25% of these networks had weak or no encryption, making users vulnerable to personal and banking data theft.

Travellers often have their guard down. The unfamiliar surroundings of a new location or a different language can throw up a useful smokescreen for a cyberattack, meaning additional care needs to be taken when logging on. Fortunately, a few smart tools and habits can help you stay protected while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.

Use a VPN for secure connections

A VPN is one of the most effective ways to safeguard users’ online activity, especially when working from unfamiliar locations. By encrypting Internet traffic, a VPN ensures that hackers can’t intercept sensitive data like login credentials or financial details. This is particularly important when accessing work emails or company files on public Wi-Fi, where cybercriminals often lurk.

Switch to an eSIM for reliable, secure mobile data

Another useful digital tool that provides a seamless way to stay connected using local mobile networks with no physical SIM card required is the eSIM. This is a game-changer for international travellers who want to avoid sky-high roaming charges or the hassle of hunting down temporary SIM cards in foreign countries.

With an eSIM, a user can download a local data plan before you even arrive at your destination, ensuring instant connectivity the moment you land. This eliminates the need to rely on unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots, significantly reducing your exposure to cyber threats.

Plus, many eSIM providers allow you to manage multiple profiles on a single device, making it easy to switch between work and personal data plans without juggling multiple phones.

Services like Kaspersky eSIM Store enables users to purchase and activate data plans in advance, track usage and top up as needed, all from a single app.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

When travelling, people often leave devices unattended. To protect against unwanted people logging in, travellers should ensure two-factor authentication (2FA) is enabled on all critical accounts and that passwords are used on all devices.

Final tips for a secure workation

Even with a VPN, eSIM and 2FA in place, your devices still need strong defenses against malware, phishing scams and ransomware. Cybercriminals often target remote workers who may let their guard down while travelling, making real-time protection essential.

Modern antivirus software does more than just scan for viruses, it actively blocks malicious downloads, warns you about phishing attempts and even secures your passwords and financial data.

For the most robust security, consider a solution like Kaspersky Premium, which combines antivirus protection, a VPN and password management into a single, easy-to-use package.

By combining a VPN, eSIM and strong antivirus, you can work from anywhere with confidence, whether you’re sending emails from a poolside or joining a video call from a festival tent.

 


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Zequence Digital Boss Calls for Strong IP Laws Enforcement, to Protect Nigeria’s Software Sector

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Mr Adeoye Oludamilola, managing director, Zequence Digital, a digital agency,  has said strong enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) laws , protection of Nigeria’s software industry against piracy will encourage innovation and investment.

Zequence Digital Boss Calls for Strong IP Laws Enforcement, to Protect Nigeria’s Software Sector

Adeoye told reporters lately in Lagos that software piracy and the unauthorised use of proprietary technology are widespread in the country.

According to report Intellectual Property (IP) laws in software refers to the legal rights that protect the creations of the mind used in software development.

These rights, which include copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks, grant developers exclusive control over their software and related assets, preventing unauthorised use or reproduction.

Adeoye said that many startups do not protect their innovations, due to a lack of knowledge and the cumbersome legal processes involved.

“IP registration and litigation are expensive and time-consuming, which further discourages developers from protecting their work,” Adeoye said.

He added that the lack of awareness among developers about their IP rights contributed to the problem.

To address these challenges, Adeoye stressed the need for the formation of an IP Protection Consortium, comprising tech firms, legal experts, and regulators, to advocate for stronger IP enforcement.

He also suggested collaborating with legal tech startups to create simplified platforms for fast-tracked IP registration.

The managing director further called for joint initiatives between legal bodies and tech communities to launch IP rights education campaigns.

This, he said, would equip developers with the knowledge they needed to protect their innovations and grow their businesses.

Adeoye emphasised the need for the government and stakeholders to create an ecosystem for development and inclusivity by proactively engaging with regulators.

According to him, this will help ensure that policies are created with the input of concerned agencies and industry experts.

 

 


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PalmPay Partners AXA Mansard Health to Make Digital Insurance Accessible, Affordable

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L-r: Oluwatoyin Alao, Head, Emerging Customers & Project Management, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc; Tope Adeniyi, CEO AXA Mansard Health Limited; Habib Kowontan, Head of Wealth Product, PalmPay; Jumoke Odunlami, Chief Distribution Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc; Olorunfemi Hanson, Head of Marketing & Communications, PalmPay.
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PalmPay, a leading fintech platform and full-stack digital neobank for emerging markets, has partnered with Nigeria’s biggest Health Insurance Company, AXA Mansard Health a member of the globally trusted AXA Group, to provide millions of Nigerians with affordable, accessible digital health insurance.

This strategic partnership enables PalmPay users to seamlessly access a range of health insurance packages from AXA Mansard directly within the PalmPay app. With plans starting as low as N500 per month, users can now choose from flexible insurance options tailored to fit their everyday needs.

The plans are designed to meet a wide range of needs; for example, the AXA Digital Health plan offers access to telemedicine consultations with doctors, N5,000 worth of medications, and up to N40,000 in surgical coverage. Users can also opt for the AXA Mansard MicroHealth plan at N1,000 per month, which provides unlimited diagnostic tests and funeral benefits. Additionally, the AXA Mansard Accident plan, available for N500 monthly, offers comprehensive death cover for both accidental and non-accidental cases.

Speaking on the partnership, Habib Kowontan, Head of Wealth Product at PalmPay, said: “Insurance is a key pillar of financial security, yet millions of Nigerians remain underserved. Our partnership with AXA Mansard Health breaks down long-standing barriers by placing reliable and affordable insurance solutions right at our users’ fingertips.”

In her remarks, Jumoke Odunlami, Chief Distribution Officer, AXA Mansard Insurance said that the partnership with Palmpay presents the AXA with another opportunity to improve health and productivity of Nigerians. “Through partnerships like this, we are covering over 1.8 million Nigerians and ensuring that healthcare is accessible, available and affordable.

“So we are excited about joining forces with a brand like Palmpay to compliment the range of financial possibilities they offer their customers with health plans. It fits well with our mission and our purpose of acting for human progress by protecting what matters, and we are looking forward to doing even more with Palmpay”, she explained.

This partnership reflects PalmPay’s broader mission to create a more inclusive digital financial ecosystem, one that empowers users to not only manage their money efficiently, but also secure their future.

This partnership reflects PalmPay’s broader mission to create a more inclusive digital financial ecosystem, one that empowers users to not only manage their money efficiently, but also secure their future.


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