ESET Ireland Becomes Official Cybersecurity Partner of Irish Esports Federation in 18-Month Deal

ESET Ireland has been announced as the official cybersecurity partner of the Irish Esports Federation in a new 18-month agreement designed to protect Ireland's national esports teams and support the country's growing gaming community.

The partnership, which includes sponsorship of the Irish national esports team, will be launched at the National Esports Centre in Cork, bringing together players, coaches and officials for the announcement and official photography.

Under the agreement, ESET Ireland will provide cybersecurity solutions and expertise to the Federation, with a particular focus on keeping competitive gamers and organisers secure whilst they train, compete and stream. The partnership will also deliver joint education initiatives on staying safe online, practical content for players and parents, and increased visibility for ESET across IEF events and digital channels.

The timing reflects a significant shift in Irish gaming culture. Recent reports indicate that more than half of Irish adults now play video games, with the industry generating hundreds of millions of euros in annual revenue in Ireland and forecasting further strong growth ahead.

However, global research shows a sharp rise in cyber-attacks targeting games and gaming platforms. Digital breaches on the games industry almost doubled between early 2023 and early 2024, with peak monthly attack volumes now exceeding one billion attacks.

George Foley, spokesperson for ESET Ireland, said:

"This is exactly where we want ESET to be, in the middle of a fast-growing community that lives and breathes technology. Gamers and esports teams are now prime targets for cybercriminals, from account takeovers and phishing to attacks on tournament infrastructure. At the same time, this is also the next generation of IT and security talent.

For us, partnering with the Irish Esports Federation is both a commercial and a security decision. It puts ESET in front of players, teams and organisers who care deeply about performance, strengthens our long-standing relationship with the gaming community, and lets us do what we do best: quietly keep people safe in the background so they can focus on the game."

Steve Daly, President of the Irish Esports Federation, said:

"Competitive gaming in Ireland is growing fast, and with that growth comes a very real need to protect our players, our teams and our competitions. The IEF is delighted to welcome ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, as an Official Partner. This multi-year collaboration provides a cutting-edge threat detection and response platform, empowering the IEF to strengthen our security frameworks and enable us to address emerging threats with precision and confidence."

The agreement runs for an initial 18-month term, with an option to extend for a further two years. Activity in the first six months will include the Cork launch event and official team photography, ESET branding on team jerseys and selected Federation assets, and a "Play Safe. Play Smart." content series focused on practical cybersecurity tips for gamers, parents and coaches.

Regular visibility for ESET across IEF digital channels and national events is also planned, along with ongoing access to ESET expertise on topics such as account protection, secure streaming and incident response.

The partnership is designed as a long-term collaboration, positioning ESET Ireland at the heart of a growing esports and gaming ecosystem whilst giving the Federation a dedicated cybersecurity partner as it expands its programmes and international presence.

For more information visit www.eset.com/ie.