ESET has unveiled its Cloud Workload Protection module as part of a broader upgrade to its ESET PROTECT Platform, marking a strategic push to extend security beyond traditional endpoints and servers into cloud environments.

Announced at RSAC 2026, the new capability consolidates security management into a single, unified view while deepening telemetry to strengthen detection and response across hybrid infrastructures.

The launch comes as cloud risk climbs up the priority list for Australian organisations, with 47% of business and technology leaders identifying cloud-related threats as their primary cybersecurity concern.

ESET’s latest move is designed to meet that challenge head-on, offering more integrated protection for increasingly complex cloud environments.

“Cloud adoption continues to accelerate across Australian organisations, but security hasn’t always kept pace,” said Parvinder Walia, President of the APAC region, ESET.

“Security teams are under pressure to manage more complexity with fewer resources. By extending protection to cloud workloads within the ESET PROTECT Platform, we’re helping businesses reduce complexity while strengthening their overall security posture.” Walia said.

Cloud Workload Protection Module

ESET also expanded its Cloud Workload Protection module to safeguard virtual machines in public cloud environments, feeding VM data into the ESET PROTECT XDR Platform to deliver deeper visibility and stronger detection across the attack surface.

Unlike competitors that typically position cloud workload protection as a standalone product, ESET is bundling the capability at no additional cost for ESET PROTECT customers (excluding Entry), aiming to simplify deployment while broadening access to advanced protection.

The move comes as the financial stakes of cloud security continue to rise, with the average cost of a public cloud data breach reaching $5.17 million per incident — the highest across all environments.

By pairing AI-driven automation with a lightweight footprint, the module is designed to reduce complexity and enable faster, more coordinated response capabilities.

It also helps IT teams validate controls and generate audit-ready evidence aligned with frameworks such as Essential Eight, NIST, CIS, HIPAA and PCI DSS.

Additional improvements to ESET PROTECT include:

• AI reporting in ESET LiveGuard Advanced: Delivers detailed behavioural reports from ESET’s cloud sandbox, with autonomous remediation; XDR users also gain AI-generated summaries that simplify complex findings.
  
• Enhanced incident analysis: Improved incident graphs and advanced investigations give EDR and XDR customers a clear visual timeline of attacks, helping teams identify entry points, track progression and access richer contextual insights, including identity data.
  
• Advanced search capabilities: Enables fast, flexible investigation across security indicators and related events spanning multiple security perimeters.
  
• ESET AI Advisor integration: Now built into the ESET PROTECT console, improving usability and providing easier access to AI-powered assistance beyond the ESET Inspect Incidents section.
  

The latest enhancements arrive as ESET continues to build momentum across the industry, underpinned by strong analyst and customer recognition.

The company has been named a Customers’ Choice in the 2026 Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer report for Endpoint Protection Platforms — one of only five vendors to achieve the distinction, backed by a 4.8/5 rating.

ESET also holds a leadership position in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Consumer Digital Life Protection 2025 Vendor Assessment, alongside strong placements in the Radicati Market Quadrant and IDC’s enterprise endpoint security reports.

With the global endpoint protection market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% to surpass $21 billion by the end of 2026, ESET’s continued innovation reinforces its standing as a key player in a rapidly expanding cybersecurity landscape.