A snapshot of some of the ways ESET makes an impact supporting the well-being of people, communities and the environment

Technology companies have been developing software and hardware that has over time become an integral part of our lives. But besides providing people with the products they need, many companies are also an essential part of the communities where they are present, by creating job opportunities and benefiting local economies.

Companies also pitch in by taking part in various activities that support and give back to the regions where they are located. This is usually done by actively participating in various initiatives that are important to their communities and may intersect with their specializations. This includes investing in children’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs or education initiatives, community outreach programs, helping the elderly, or supporting women in tech.

Enterprises also use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to focus on finding ecological and environmentally sustainable solutions to help reduce their carbon footprints, including by lowering water consumption using more eco-friendly packaging for their products and by introducing energy-saving hardware into their offices and fostering greener habits in their staff.

For over three decades, ESET has been fulfilling its mission of giving netizens the opportunity to enjoy safer technology while supporting worthwhile causes that adhere to its core values of Courage, Integrity, Reliability, and Passion. Founded on a strong set of convictions and principles, ESET doesn’t shy away from championing worthy causes that align with its mission of building a safer world through education, research, and development.

The company believes that every business should bring value to people, the community, and the environment. Hence, it always tries to help and give back, and it doesn’t just talk about it – it puts its money where its mouth is. ESET does this through various initiatives and programs including its CSR department, through which it supports education programs and social issues that impact the communities it is part of.

That’s also why when the pandemic struck, ESET decided to act. It funded the creation and production of the Slovak-made vDetect COVID-19 RT-qPCR diagnostic kit, which was created thanks to the cooperation between scientists from MultiplexDX, the Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, and the Comenius University Science Park in Bratislava. The first 100,000 kits produced were donated to the Slovak Republic.

The ripple effects of the pandemic also forced many companies to quickly transition to remote work, a step that would usually take quite a bit of planning, including implementing cybersecurity measures that take into account the threats facing employees working from home. ESET North America quickly launched a free training module that would help educate businesses on how to move to a remote work force as safely as possible.

In addition, beyond the efforts of aiding in battling the global pandemic, ESET has been actively taking part in various initiatives over the years. Last year, the company’s research and development center started working with the European Migration Agency and the Technical University of Moldova on launching a new Cyber Security Academy. The most successful graduates of the academy will be offered professional internships at ESET.

Another part of the project focuses on talented young women in IT, an issue that is one of the key pillars of ESET’s CSR, since it supports various women in tech initiatives. In this case, the company will work with TEKEDU, a Moldovan NGO to support the transition of young women into the Information and Communication Technologies sector by organizing workshops focusing on science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Another example of how the company supports women in tech is its ESET Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship Awards, which was envisioned as a way to tackle the underrepresentation of women in the cybersecurity field.

ESET’s office in San Diego, California, is also known for working with various nonprofit organizations from the region, helping them improve the lives of fellow San Diegans. We cooperate with the San Diego Police Foundation (SDPF) on enhancing their SafetyNet® program that helps teachers and parents learn how to keep kids safe online. We are also proud supporters of the Promises2Kids organization that helps cater to the needs of foster children.

The above is just a small overview of all the activities through which ESET tries to be a responsible partner to the communities where it is present, and we hope to do a lot more in the future.

Stay tuned for a follow-up article that will look at how ESET has been working together with the San Diego Police Foundation to teach children proper cybersecurity habits.