ESET Eyes AI-Native, Cloud-First Growth in 2026 Amid Evolving Cyber Threats
In an exclusive outlook shared by Ilias Tsapsidis, Sales Director for Middle East, Greece, Cyprus & Malta at ESET, the cybersecurity leader is poised to capitalize on surging demand for advanced, AI-powered protection and managed services in 2026
What opportunities do you foresee for 2026, and how do you plan to leverage them?
ESET sees a growing demand for cloud-native security, AI-powered threat detection, and managed services especially amongst MSPs, and mid-sized firms. We plan to leverage that with expanded AI-native tools like ESET AI Advisor, and scalable MDR/XDR offerings.
What major challenges did you encounter this year, and how did you address them?
Some of the major challenges in 2025 included the rapid evolution of malware and ransomware threats, leading to the rising demand for more advanced, cloud-aware protection. ESET addressed these by revamping its cloud module (ELGA), enhancing AI-based scanning/filtering, and launching new MDR services.
Can you elaborate on your strategic partnerships this year and plans for next year?
Strategic partnerships in 2024–2025 included alliances with Intel, Stellar Cyber, Mindflow, SuperOps, Filigran, Arctic Wolf and others, and in 2025, a new regional MOU with Canon to distribute ESET solutions across Asia. Plans likely include extending such alliances and integrating with more vendors in 2026.
What will be your primary focus areas and strategic priorities for 2026?
ESETs primary focus for 2026 will be to further enhance AI-native, cloud first protection, expanding MDR/XDR services, strengthening threat intelligence capabilities, and growing market penetration globally, with enterprise, MSP, and emerging markets at center stage.
Are there plans to explore new markets or introduce new products/applications in 2026?
ESET plans to continue exploring new markets, and launching new applications which would include options such as, expanded Cyber Threat Intelligence offerings, ransomware remediation for partners, and enhanced cloud/office-security tools.
How is your company approaching sustainability, digital transformation, or AI adoption in preparation for 2026?
ESET is embracing digital transformation through cloud-first design, broadening AI-driven threat detection and response, and embedding AI in core workflows. Our broader sustainability and innovation efforts emphasize long-term R&D investment, efficient use of resources, and technologies that support secure digital transformation for our customers, globally.
