Essential 8
Assess your organisation’s security and identify next steps to enhance your cybersecurity with our free Essential 8 assessment.
A strategic approach to cyber security
The Essential 8 is an Australian cybersecurity framework by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), which serves as an upgrade from the original set of 4 security controls. This enhanced framework reflects a proactive response to the evolving landscape and the growing sophistication of cyberattacks, providing organisations with a detailed toolkit to address a wider range of cyber risks.
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Increased security through tested controls
The Essential 8 streamlines processes and enhances communication, boosting performance.
Improved efficiency and productivity
The Essential 8 streamlines processes and enhances communication, boosting performance.
Cost savings with Essential 8
The Essential 8 helps avoid costly security incidents while also reducing reliance on manual processes, leading to significant savings.
What are the Essential 8 controls
The Essential 8 controls are a set of baseline security controls meticulously curated to establish a foundational level of protection. These controls are designed to mitigate the most common and pervasive cyber threats faced by organisations fostering a more secure digital environment.
Previously, organisations were free to select strategies from the Essential 8, but the ASD Essential 8 maturity model stresses the importance of implementing all eight strategies together. This approach recognises their complementary attributes and broader focus on the evolving threat landscape, providing a more robust defence for organisations.
01
Application whitelisting
Only approved and authorised applications can run on a system.
02
Patch applications
Keep applications up to date with the latest security patches.
03
Application hardening
Restrict user privileges and capabilities to reduce the risk of cyber attacks.
04
Configuring systems to reduce attack surface area
Configure macro settings to block macros from the internet, and only allow vetted macros.
05
Controlling administrative privileges
Limit administrative privileges to only those who need them.
06
Restricting user access to systems and data
Require multi-factor authentication for all users who access sensitive information or systems.
07
Implementing application allowlisting
Only approved and authorised applications can run on a system.
08
Managing patch management processes
Keep operating systems up to date with the latest security patches.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Essential 8?
To bolster the cyber security defences of Australian businesses amidst rising malicious attacks, the federal government has developed the Essential 8 to help organisations by providing a comprehensive framework of recommended security measures and best practices.
The Essential 8 is an Australian cybersecurity framework by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), which serves as an upgrade from the original set of 4 security controls. This enhanced framework reflects a proactive response to the evolving landscape and the growing sophistication of cyberattacks, providing organisations with a detailed toolkit to address a wider range of cyber risks.
How does the Essential 8 help reduce cyber threats?
The Essential 8, a cybersecurity framework developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), plays a crucial role in mitigating cyber threats by providing a set of prioritised strategies to enhance an organisation’s security posture. These strategies encompass fundamental security measures such as application whitelisting, patching applications, configuring Microsoft Office macro settings, user application hardening, restricting administrative privileges, patching operating systems, multi-factor authentication, and daily backups. By implementing these practices, organisations can significantly reduce their vulnerability to common cyber threats like malware, phishing attacks, and unauthorised access. The Essential 8 serves as a practical roadmap for organisations to bolster their defences and build resilience against evolving cyber threats.
What is the Essential 8 framework?
Encompassing a set of eight controls, the Essential 8 framework offers a structured and strategic approach to bolstering an organisation’s cybersecurity posture. These controls are meticulously crafted to target key areas of vulnerability, encompassing aspects such as network security, endpoint protection, user authentication, application hardening, and incident response.
Although no set of mitigation strategies can provide absolute protection against all cyber threats, it is highly advisable for organisations to adopt the eight essential mitigation strategies as a foundational approach.
Our Essential 8 maturity checklist
Businesses can benefit from implementing Essential 8 in several ways. By having Essential 8 in place, businesses can be sure that their data and systems are well-protected from external threats, as well as help businesses improve their overall efficiency and productivity.
Empire Technologies has over 20 years of experience in providing managed security services. Our extensive experience and knowledge in the industry make us the ideal partner to help reinforce your business’s protective posture and achieve the highest Essential 8 maturity level.
For support with your Essential 8 cyber security, check out our Essential 8 maturity checklist and take the first step towards securing your business.
How can I implement the ASD Essential 8 Maturity Model?
Implementing all eight mitigation strategies as a complete package is now the top priority in the ASD Essential 8 Maturity Model, as they are complementary and address various cyber threats. To ensure comprehensive protection against cyber threats, organisations must attain full maturity across all eight mitigation strategies before advancing to a higher level.
To implement the Essential 8, organisations should begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of their current cybersecurity landscape, identifying existing strengths, vulnerabilities, and potential areas for improvement. Once the assessment is complete, they should align the specific Essential 8 controls with their unique operational requirements and risk profile. Next, develop a tailored implementation plan that outlines the sequencing, resource allocation, and milestones for each control’s deployment. Regular monitoring, testing, and continuous refinement are essential to ensure the controls remain effective. Finally, by fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness and education amongst staff organisations can enhance the implementation and long-term efficacy of the Essential 8 framework.
Why is the Essential 8 maturity checklist important?
Businesses can benefit from implementing Essential 8 in several ways. By having Essential 8 in place, businesses can be sure that their data and systems are well-protected from external threats, as well as help businesses improve their overall efficiency and productivity.
Empire Technologies has over 20 years of experience in providing managed security services. Our extensive experience and knowledge in the industry make us the ideal partner to help reinforce your business’s protective posture and achieve the highest Essential 8 maturity level.
For support with your Essential 8 cyber security, check out our Essential 8 maturity checklist and take the first step towards securing your business.
What does the Essential 8 model mean for your company?
The Australian Government recommends that all organisations, regardless of location or size, adhere to the ASD Essential 8 framework to protect themselves from common cyber attacks and minimise the impact of security incidents. Implementing Essential 8 is not just a precautionary measure but is also cost-effective and provides several benefits for your organisation.
What is the difference between ACSC Essential 8 and ASD Essential 8?
The ACSC Essential 8 and ASD Essential 8 are two sets of guidelines created by different government agencies in Australia for improving cybersecurity. While they share a similar name, there are some differences between the two. The ACSC Essential 8 is focused on helping organisations protect themselves against cyber threats, while the ASD Essential 8 is focused on the same, but for the Australian Government. Additionally, there are some differences in the specific controls included in each set of guidelines. For example, the ACSC Essential 8 includes the control of application whitelisting, while the ASD Essential 8 does not. Ultimately, both sets of guidelines are designed to improve cybersecurity, but they are tailored to different audiences and have slightly different emphases.