Kaspersky Lab aims for global growth

Kaspersky Lab is turning its guns on the corporate segment, even as it works on growing its consumer market and increasing its global presence.

For Kaspersky Lab the future is all about growth and expansion, and that was all most spokespeople could talk about at the company's tenth annual partner conference and eighth virus analyst's summit, which were held in St.Petersburg, Russia recently.

"We are the number 4 antivirus company globally and the largest malware company in Europe. And we are still growing quickly. We expect no less than 80% growth this year. The secret to this success is our focus on technologies and less impetus on marketing," says Eugene Kaspersky, CEO of the security vendor.

 

The numbers back up his statements. Kaspersky clocked revenue of US$130 million in fiscal year 2007 and expects $350 million in revenue by the end of fiscal year 2008.

The company expects to add to its staff in keeping with the growth, whereby the business divisions will grow from 120 people to 200, regional divisions will add from 340 to reach 600 employees and R&D/engineering is set to go from 285 to 500 personnel by the end of 2008.

Much of the growth that the company has enjoyed in recent times has come from the consumer segment as its shrink-wrapped antivirus and antispam packages get picked up by more people globally.

This has been especially true in the company's regional markets, such as Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (EEMEA), where it has worked to steadily increase its retail presence.

"I have been astonished to see our retail presence grow with such strength over the last year. To be the absolute number one in the consumer market is a task for the next year for us," says Garry Kondakov, managing director of the EEMEA region for Kaspersky Lab.

The company is strategically expanding in growing markets, pushing out globally to increase its presence in emerging territories, and to conduct business with local, focused strategy.