ESET continues to reinforce its position in the cybersecurity landscape with a sharp focus on innovation, trust, and enterprise security excellence. In an exclusive interaction with DT, Ajaykumar Joshi, Country Manager, India & SAARC, ESET, discusses the company’s growth momentum, evolving AI strategy, channel ecosystem, and key priorities for the year ahead.
Q: Please tell us about your overall business performance in 2025. What have been the most significant factors driving the company’s growth?
A: 2025 has been a year of sustainable growth for us in India, with strong double-digit growth. India is undoubtedly a rapidly growing market and is our key strategic market. We saw steady momentum in our channel-first business.
The most significant growth drivers are:
First, the acceleration of digital transformation and AI adoption across Indian enterprises has expanded the attack surface, elevating cybersecurity from an IT function to a boardroom priority.
Second, increased regulatory focus around data protection and critical infrastructure security has driven demand for enterprise-grade, prevention-first solutions.
Third, our deepening partner ecosystem has enabled us to scale faster across the country
Q: With AI becoming central to innovation, what does your 2026 product roadmap look like, particularly in terms of AI-powered advancements?
A: AI has been embedded in our security architecture and solutions for decades, helping to detect and deter threats. We also launched ESET AI Advisor in 2024 to enhance security operations efficiency. In 2026, we are focused on making it more adaptive, contextual, and proactive.
Our roadmap centers on evolving toward more intelligent, agentic-driven security workflows that assist analysts in faster decision-making. However, crucially, we see AI not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a force multiplier. The future of cybersecurity lies in the synergy between advanced AI models and experienced threat researchers.
Q: What concrete steps are you taking to further strengthen partner engagement and long-term channel collaboration?
A: Our channel ecosystem is central to our India strategy. In 2026, we are doubling down on long-term collaboration rather than transactional engagement.
Key initiatives include structured partner enablement programs focused on advanced threat detection and MDR, joint go-to-market campaigns in priority verticals such as BFSI and manufacturing, and deeper technical certifications to enhance solution capability.
We are also investing in co-innovation and account-based marketing initiatives with strategic partners. The objective is simple: move from being a vendor to becoming a growth partner for our channel community.
Q: How is your organization supporting the Make in India initiative, and what role does localization play in your future growth plans?
A: We contribute by strengthening local cybersecurity capabilities, expanding our partner network, and investing in talent development. We also have plans to continue investing in the India aggressively, which we will announce in the near future.
As India advances its AI and digital infrastructure ambitions, trusted cybersecurity frameworks will be foundational. Our role is to enable secure digital growth aligned with national priorities.
Q: What are your top strategic priorities for 2026 across revenue, expansion, and market positioning?
A: Our 2026 strategy focuses on three pillars.
First, enterprise acceleration — strengthening our footprint in regulated and critical sectors including finance, healthcare, energy, and government.
Second, geographic expansion — increasing penetration beyond metro cities into high-growth Tier-2 markets through partner-led models.
Third, brand positioning — reinforcing our identity as a prevention-first, research-driven cybersecurity leader that combines European standards with local expertise.
India will continue to be one of our most strategically important markets globally, and we are committed to long-term, responsible growth.
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