Governance, Risk and Compliance with Essential 8 Framework
Core Cybersecurity Strategies of the Essential 8 Framework
This refers to the level of control and constraints you have over users’ applications. It involves stopping software libraries, scripts, installers, and other executables from running on workstations.
This guideline refers explicitly to updating third-party applications. It focuses on applying security updates and patches as quickly as feasible. The strategies require frequent usage of vulnerability scanners to detect missing patches and updates, as well as removing solutions that are no longer supported by their vendors.
Privileges :This strategy involves managing users with administrative privileges. It involves validating requests for privileged access to systems and applications, blocking privileged accounts from accessing the internet, and using separate operating environments for privileged and unprivileged users.
This strategy focuses on keeping operating systems up to date. The main outcome is to ensure that OS patches, updates, and security mitigations for internet-facing services are applied within two weeks of release – or within 48 hours if an exploit exists. Vulnerability scanners should be used to identify any missing patches, and any OS that is no longer vendor supported should be replaced.
Macro Settings: This refers to the amount of freedom your users have to run macros in Microsoft Office applications. Most users would have macros blocked as default – unless they have a demonstrated business requirement.
This refers to the limitations in place on users’ applications. At its most basic, web browsers should not be able to process ads or Java content from the internet, Internet Explorer 11 should be disabled, and users should not be able to change these settings.
This section involves enforcing MFA for all privileged access. Maturity starts by enforcing MFA for all user before they access internet-facing services and third-party providers.
This strategy involves ensuring critical systems and information is securely backed up and readily available. This flexible strategy requires organisations to back up important data, software, and configuration settings “in accordance with business continuity requirements”. All backup and restoration systems are tested, and unprivileged accounts restricted to their own backup environments.
What is an
Essential 8
Framework Security
Assessment?
Cyber Ethos Insight via Essential 8 Framework Audit
- A comprehensive review of existing technical information security controls against the ACSC Essential Eight Mitigation Strategies
- A ranked Maturity Level (from 0 to 3) for each of the mitigation strategies
- A report highlighting key areas of improvement, corrective actions, and estimated budgets
What is the ACSC maturity model?
The ACSC Essential Eight maturity model provides organisations guidance in relation to the ACSC Essential Eight strategies implementation. It uses a scoring system from 0-3 to help identify what is the security posture for a particular organisation. It also provides the next logical steps to enhance that security posture.
This takes away organisations ability to cherry-pick strategies from the Essential Eight and provides them with a wholistic and sustainable model. What do I need to do next?
One size does not fit all. Your organization’s Risk Management Framework and Risk Appetite will determine what solutions and strategies must be implemented. The consultants at Cyber Ethos can conduct an Essential 8 security assessment for you. Get in touch with us immediately by clicking Contact us.
Further Information
The Essential Eight Maturity Model is part of a suite of related publications:
- Answers to questions about this maturity model are available in the Essential Eight Maturity Model FAQ publication.
- Additional mitigation strategies are available in the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents publication.
- Further information on additional mitigation strategies is available in the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents – Mitigation Details publication.
- Further Information on implementing application control is available in the Implementing Application Control publication.
- Answers to questions about this maturity model are available in the Essential Eight Maturity Model FAQ publication.
- Additional mitigation strategies are available in the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents publication.
- Further information on additional mitigation strategies is available in the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents – Mitigation Details publication.
- Further Information on implementing multi-factor authentication is available in the Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication publication.
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Cybersecurity FAQ’S
1. What is the Essential Eight maturity model?
The Essential Eight mitigation strategies are organised according to a corresponding maturity level designed to mitigate increasing levels of threat actor tradecraft.
This means you can pick the maturity level that is proportionate to your organisation’s cyber threat profile and invest in stages to achieve your goal.
Maturity Level 0
There are weaknesses in the mitigation strategy that make your organisation vulnerable to compromise.
Maturity Level 1
The mitigation strategy provides resilience against threat actors who leverage commodity tradecraft that is widely available.
Maturity Level 2
The mitigation strategy provides resilience against the next level of threat actors who invest more time in targeting, reconnaissance and tool effectiveness.
Maturity Level 3
The mitigation strategy provides resilience against threat actors who focus on specific targets and invest significant time into circumventing security controls.
2. What are the Essential 8 controls?
The Essential Eight comprises eight core mitigation strategies which provide the targeted direction necessary to secure your technology where it matters.
The Essential 8 controls and mitigation strategies are:
Application control
Application patching
Restrict administrative privileges
Patch operating systems
Configure Microsoft Office macro settings
User application hardening
Multi-factor authentication
Regular backups
3. Is Essential 8 mandatory?
While not mandatory for all private businesses, the Essential Eight is strongly recommended by the ACSC and is becoming a requirement for government agencies and many industry sectors. Proactively adopting it demonstrates due diligence and can be a competitive advantage when tendering for contracts.
4. Why is it important for Australian businesses?
Essential 8 outlines the top eight mitigation strategies to help Australian organisations protect themselves against common cyber threats. Implementing the Essential Eight significantly improves your cyber resilience and is considered a baseline for security maturity. Learn more on our Essential Eight page – https://cyberethos.com.au/essential-8/
5. What are the three maturity levels of the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight framework has three maturity levels designed to scale with an organisation’s risk profile:
• Maturity Level One: For small to medium businesses, protecting against general threats.
• Maturity Level Two: For larger organisations or those with higher-risk profiles.
• Maturity Level Three: For critical infrastructure and organisations handling sensitive data.
Cyber Ethos can help you identify and achieve the right level for your business.
6. How does Cyber Ethos help with Essential Eight compliance?
Our process begins with a comprehensive Essential Eight gap analysis to assess your current posture against the framework’s controls. We then provide a clear, prioritised roadmap and expert guidance to help you implement the necessary technical controls and policies to achieve your target maturity level.
Book a free consultation to start – https://cyberethos.com.au/contact/
7. What is the difference between an Essential Eight audit and a penetration test?
An Essential Eight audit specifically measures your compliance against the eight prescribed controls. A penetration test is a broader simulated attack to find any exploitable vulnerabilities in your systems. While a pen test can help validate some E8 controls, they are different services. We often recommend both for a complete security picture.