Having gone through several stages of accepting the inevitable,
Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:45 am
The history of PRO32 illustrates the saying "every cloud has a silver lining": dramatic events in geopolitics transformed a major seller of foreign antivirus software into a Russian IT developer, with a system of services and support.
Before SVO, Eset's product occupied a quarter of the Russian antivirus market, Eset Russia has nine offices (in our country, Belarus and Kazakhstan), more than 3,000 partners and 23 distributors in 11 countries. A week after the Slovak developer left Russia, all this was at risk of sinking into oblivion. In addition, Eset appointed a Ukrainian company as its sole representative in the CIS, interaction with which is equated to treason.
Eset Russia turned into PRO32, radically cyprus whatsapp number database transforming the business. It was a new company, but with 18 years of experience in software development and sales, retaining a regional partner network. Its products cover a larger niche than Eset software once did: PRO32 antivirus for corporate and private clients, PRO32 Connect remote computer access tool, resource and performance monitoring system in the Clever Control company, itHelper VPN connector, Qrator Labs anti-DDoS solution.
However, the new old company remembers its origins and, as CEO Igor Mandik told a ComNews correspondent, does not abandon them.
"Eset's product is called NOD32, and ours is PRO32. The rhyme is obvious, because this is our legacy, we grew out of Eset and are building a happy future based on a 17-year happy past. Why "PRO"? Lately there has been a lot of fakery, and in contrast to it, we want to create something real, the result of which we vouch for. All the solutions that we sell, our company uses in real work. Until we test them on our own skin, we do not recommend them to anyone. And I, as the head of the company, vouch for the quality of our products with my head," said Igor Mandik.
The name of the new antivirus is consonant with the product of former partners not only because of nostalgic feelings. On the website of the Russian version of Eset NODith an appeal to switch to PRO32 with a discount. But the emerging trends of recent times, when the countries of Eastern Europe are gradually restoring relations with Russia, it seems, will not force the NOD32 company to return to its previous state.
"On the one hand, never say never, on the other hand, we have gone so far with the PRO32 antivirus that it would be strange to grow a competitor for ourselves within our own portfolio. I am not saying never, but I do not see any advantages in this yet. Rather, disadvantages," comments the CEO.
K7 Computing, a family business based in India, is a full-fledged partner, according to PRO32 management. The Indian side is working on the core of the antivirus system, and the Russian side is designing the product as it sees fit for the domestic market.
Cooperation with a Russian company does not prevent K7 Computing from offering antivirus, antispyware and other products to the market - with an Indian vision of the interface and without Russian localization. According to the head of PRO32, cooperation is based on deep respect for each other and taking into account cultural characteristics.
But the transition from Eset Russia to PRO32 was not easy.
"It was difficult to change the employees' mindset. The company had been doing one thing for 17 years and then suddenly switched to something else. It took some people more than a year to realize that "we are no longer Eset," says Igor Mandik.
Entering the Russian market between two strongholds - Kaspersky and Dr.Web - is not the first time for the company's management.
Before SVO, Eset's product occupied a quarter of the Russian antivirus market, Eset Russia has nine offices (in our country, Belarus and Kazakhstan), more than 3,000 partners and 23 distributors in 11 countries. A week after the Slovak developer left Russia, all this was at risk of sinking into oblivion. In addition, Eset appointed a Ukrainian company as its sole representative in the CIS, interaction with which is equated to treason.
Eset Russia turned into PRO32, radically cyprus whatsapp number database transforming the business. It was a new company, but with 18 years of experience in software development and sales, retaining a regional partner network. Its products cover a larger niche than Eset software once did: PRO32 antivirus for corporate and private clients, PRO32 Connect remote computer access tool, resource and performance monitoring system in the Clever Control company, itHelper VPN connector, Qrator Labs anti-DDoS solution.
However, the new old company remembers its origins and, as CEO Igor Mandik told a ComNews correspondent, does not abandon them.
"Eset's product is called NOD32, and ours is PRO32. The rhyme is obvious, because this is our legacy, we grew out of Eset and are building a happy future based on a 17-year happy past. Why "PRO"? Lately there has been a lot of fakery, and in contrast to it, we want to create something real, the result of which we vouch for. All the solutions that we sell, our company uses in real work. Until we test them on our own skin, we do not recommend them to anyone. And I, as the head of the company, vouch for the quality of our products with my head," said Igor Mandik.
The name of the new antivirus is consonant with the product of former partners not only because of nostalgic feelings. On the website of the Russian version of Eset NODith an appeal to switch to PRO32 with a discount. But the emerging trends of recent times, when the countries of Eastern Europe are gradually restoring relations with Russia, it seems, will not force the NOD32 company to return to its previous state.
"On the one hand, never say never, on the other hand, we have gone so far with the PRO32 antivirus that it would be strange to grow a competitor for ourselves within our own portfolio. I am not saying never, but I do not see any advantages in this yet. Rather, disadvantages," comments the CEO.
K7 Computing, a family business based in India, is a full-fledged partner, according to PRO32 management. The Indian side is working on the core of the antivirus system, and the Russian side is designing the product as it sees fit for the domestic market.
Cooperation with a Russian company does not prevent K7 Computing from offering antivirus, antispyware and other products to the market - with an Indian vision of the interface and without Russian localization. According to the head of PRO32, cooperation is based on deep respect for each other and taking into account cultural characteristics.
But the transition from Eset Russia to PRO32 was not easy.
"It was difficult to change the employees' mindset. The company had been doing one thing for 17 years and then suddenly switched to something else. It took some people more than a year to realize that "we are no longer Eset," says Igor Mandik.
Entering the Russian market between two strongholds - Kaspersky and Dr.Web - is not the first time for the company's management.