ESET Launches Cloud Workload Protection and AI Enhancements for ESET PROTECT Platform

ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has launched ESET Cloud Workload Protection as part of a comprehensive update for its ESET PROTECT Platform. Announced at RSAC 2026, the new module helps customers move beyond endpoints and servers to cover cloud workloads, enriching telemetry for detection and response while consolidating security management across endpoint and cloud environments inside a single platform.

"Many businesses, especially those in the midmarket, as well as MSPs, have been steadily adopting cloud features such as virtual machines to enhance their productivity," said Michal Jankech, Vice President, Enterprise and SMB/MSP at ESET. "About 80% of organizations regard the public cloud as crucial for their digital business initiatives. With ESET Cloud Workload Protection, we have reduced the attack surface for customers by extending our protection to virtual machines running in AWS, Azure, and GCP environments."

What ESET Cloud Workload Protection does

The new module protects virtual machines in public cloud environments, ingesting cloud VM data into the ESET PROTECT XDR Platform to provide extended visibility. While competitors often offer cloud workload protection as a standalone offering, ESET includes it at no additional cost for ESET PROTECT customers, with the exception of ESET PROTECT Entry.

With the average cost of a public cloud data breach amounting to USD 5.17 million per incident — the highest among all environments — the module uses AI-driven automation to cut complexity and gives customers a richer set of tools to respond to threats at every stage of an attack. The module also helps IT managers validate controls and generate audit evidence for regulatory frameworks including NIST, CIS, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Additional platform improvements

The update to ESET PROTECT includes several further enhancements.

New AI reporting in ESET LiveGuard Advanced provides behavioral reports detailing the actions and characteristics of incidents analyzed by ESET's cloud sandbox, alongside autonomous remediation. For XDR-enabled subscribers, these reports are enhanced with AI-generated summaries that simplify complex findings.

Improved Incident Graphs and Advanced Investigations for EDR and XDR customers provide a clear visual representation of each incident, enabling security teams to quickly understand the attack, identify the initial entry point, and track its progression. Incidents now include richer contextual insights, including identity-related information, alongside improvements that support faster investigation and response.

ESET AI Advisor has been added directly to the ESET PROTECT console to improve usability and simplify access to the assistant, which was previously available only within a dedicated ESET Inspect Incidents section.

For more information about ESET PROTECT, visit ESET's website. To find out how these products fared in independent testing, visit MITRE and AV-Comparatives.