ASD Essential 8

From Compliance to Confidence: Let’s Build Your Defence

The ASD Essential 8 is a roadmap to enduring defences, smarter risk management, and lasting cyber resilience. We can guide you on this road to stronger security.

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The Gold Standard for

Cyber Defence

Cyber security is not a checkbox. It’s a strategy of continuous refinement: assessing, updating, and aligning security measures as cyber threats slyly evolve.

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) developed the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Essential 8 as a cyber security risk mitigation guidelines for businesses to follow.

We simplify implementing the Essential 8 and strengthening your maturity level. Our team will align your security controls with the ASD Essential 8 maturity model, reducing exposure to attacks.

We make security practical. We cut through complexity. Let’s strengthen your security posture with the nation’s leading security framework.

The ASD Essential 8 Security Controls

Application Control

Prevent unauthorised applications from running

Patching Applications

Block malicious macros in documents

Microsoft Office Macro Settings

Keep software up to date and secure

User Application Hardening

Restrict risky applications like Flash and Java

Restrict Administrative Privileges

Minimise attack exposure

Patch Operating Systems

Ensure OS vulnerabilities are mitigated

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Strengthen access controls

Regular Backups

Protect critical data from ransomware and corruption

The ASD Essential 8 Maturity Model

Cyber security is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We use the Essential 8 maturity model to apply the security controls at a pace that works for you.

We assess your current maturity level, identify security gaps, and implement the Essential 8 to reach your target state.

Security isn’t about reacting. It’s about staying ahead. Trust us to guide you every step of the way.

  • Maturity Level 0 No or negligible cyber security measures.
  • Maturity Level 1 Basic protection against opportunistic cyber threats.
  • Maturity Level 2 Stronger controls to defend against targeted attacks.
  • Maturity Level 3 Advanced security for high-risk environments.
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Risk Mapping: Know Where You Stand

Every organisation has blind spots. We identify yours. Our assessment benchmarks your security against the Essential 8 maturity model. We evaluate:

  • Application security: Are untrusted applications running in your environment?
  • Patch management: Are vulnerabilities being fixed before attackers can exploit them?
  • Access controls: Are privileged accounts properly restricted?
  • Backup and recovery: Is your data protected against ransomware?

The result? A clear roadmap for reaching your target maturity level.

Fix What Matters First - Not Just What’s Easy

Knowing the risks is step one. Fixing them is step two. We prioritise remediation based on real-world risks, not theoretical checklists. This means:

  • Restricting administrative privileges to prevent unauthorised access.
  • Hardening Microsoft 365 and cloud services to close common attack vectors.
  • Patching critical systems fast to block exploit attempts.
  • Deploying multi-factor authentication (MFA) to prevent credential theft.

Remediation is about closing the gaps before attackers can exploit them.

Visibility, Automation, and Full-Spectrum Protection

Security controls only work if they’re configured correctly. We make sure they are. Our team deploys Essential 8 ASD-aligned security measures with a focus on automation, cost savings, and no wasted resources. This includes:

  • Locking down user privileges so employees only have the access they need.
  • Enforcing security baselines across devices and cloud platforms.
  • Deploying active monitoring and anomaly detection for real-time threat response.

We integrate security into your existing IT ecosystem, so protection is built into your technology.

Compliance Management Without the Complexity

Aligning with ASD Essential 8 is also essential for compliance policies.

We help businesses meet the Australian Government’s security requirements, whether that means:

  • Achieving ISO 27001 certification for global security recognition.
  • Ensuring PCI DSS compliance for secure payment processing.
  • Demonstrating Essential 8 maturity for risk management and cyber insurance.

Regulators demand evidence of compliance.
We make sure you have it.

Continuous Protection.
Zero Compromise.

Cyber security doesn’t stop once controls are in place. Attackers keep innovating – and so do we.

We provide continuous security management, monitoring, and regular assessments to bolster your cyber resilience.

  • Regular security audits to track progress and adapt to emerging threats.
  • Automated security updates and vulnerability scanning for proactive risk management.
  • Expert-led strategy reviews to ensure security solutions cover your entire business.

Our security team doesn’t just respond to cyber incidents. We prevent them.

Secure Today is Resilient Tomorrow

Security is built into everything we do. That’s why we align our cyber security services with the ASD Essential 8 – Australia’s best security strategies to mitigate cyber threats.

Every security control we deliver is designed to reduce the attack surface, improve detection and response capabilities, and maintain compliance.

We do more than just patch problems. We create a resilient cyber security posture that delivers measurable results.

Don’t wait for an attack to take action. Secure your future and build resilience now.

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FAQs

The ASD Essential 8 is a cyber security framework developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help organisations mitigate cyber threats and improve their cyber security posture. It outlines eight key security strategies that, when properly implemented, significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks.

The ASD Essential 8 maturity model provides a structured approach, allowing businesses to improve their security in stages, progressing from basic to advanced protection. The framework is widely used across Australian Government agencies and private organisations to strengthen defences against cyber threats.

The Essential 8 provides strategies to mitigate cyber risks by focusing on prevention, detection, and recovery. By implementing the ASD Essential Eight, organisations can:

  • Prevent common attacks by blocking untrusted applications and restricting privileged accounts.
  • Limit damage if an attack occurs, using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and patching vulnerabilities.
  • Recover quickly with regular backups that protect sensitive data from ransomware and breaches.

The Australia Essential 8 consists of eight security controls that help businesses defend against cyber threats:

  1. Application Control: Prevent unauthorised software from running.
  2. Patch Applications: Fix software vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
  3. Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings: Block malicious macros that can compromise systems.
  4. User Application Hardening: Remove risky application features that attackers exploit.
  5. Restrict Administrative Privileges: Limit privileged accounts to reduce attack surface.
  6. Patch Operating Systems: Keep OS security updates current.
  7. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Strengthen identity security with additional verification layers.
  8. Regular Backups: Ensure sensitive data can be restored quickly after an attack.

Organisations are assessed against the Essential 8 maturity model, which defines three levels of cyber security maturity: from basic protections (Level 1) to advanced, high-security environments (Level 3).

Cyber attacks are increasing, and Australian businesses are prime targets. The Australian Government mandates that public sector organisations align with the ASD Essential 8 to protect sensitive data and national security interests. Private businesses also benefit by:

  • Reducing financial and reputational damage from cyber incidents.
  • Meeting compliance requirements for frameworks like ISO 27001 and PCI DSS.
  • Improving cyber insurance eligibility by demonstrating strong security controls.
  • Enhancing operational resilience, ensuring business continuity even after a cyberattack.

Implementing the Essential Eight requires a strategic approach. Here’s how you can get started:

  1. Assess your current security posture: Identify gaps in your existing security controls using the ASD Essential 8 maturity model.
  2. Prioritise risk mitigation: Focus on high-impact areas like restricting administrative privileges, enabling MFA, and implementing application control.
  3. Harden security controls: Ensure patching is automated, software is secured, and users operate with least privilege access.
  4. Monitor and refine: Cyber security is ongoing. Regular audits, updates, and security awareness training are essential.
  5. Engage with us: Our expert guidance ensures effective implementation of the Essential 8, helping your business align with Australian Government recommendations and compliance requirements.
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