ACSC Essential 8 Implementation | Empire Technologies

Increased security through tested controls

The Essential 8 provides an approved framework for organisations to ensure that their data and systems are well-protected from external threats.

Improved efficiency and productivity

Essential 8 helps businesses streamline processes and improve communication, resulting in a significant boost in performance.

Cost savings with Essential 8

The Essential 8 can help businesses avoid costly damages caused by security incidents while also reducing reliance on manual processes.

Who is Empire Technologies?

At Empire Technologies, our unwavering dedication to delivering technology solutions can help you drive business success. With an accomplished team boasting over two decades of hands-on experience in enterprise-level design, implementation, and support for IT infrastructures, we possess a profound understanding of the intricate needs of businesses, spanning from small enterprises to global organisations.

We understand the importance of each project and as a trusted turn-key vendor for some of the world’s leading organisations, we take complete ownership of maintaining and supporting the solutions we deploy, providing seamless operations for businesses and their stakeholders.

Protecting over 350 businesses for 20 years

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.

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.

Talk to an expert for more information and start implementing the Essential 8 framework today.

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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.

The ASD Essential 8 maturity model, provides guidance to organisations on how to implement the ASD Essential 8 strategies. To assist organisations with their implementation, four maturity levels have been defined. The model uses a scoring system from 0-3 to help organisations assess their security posture and identify the logical next steps to enhance defences.

With the exception of Maturity Level Zero, the maturity levels are based on mitigating increasing levels of adversary tradecraft (i.e. tools, tactics, techniques and procedures) and targeting. Depending on an adversary’s overall capability, they may exhibit different levels of tradecraft for different operations against different targets.

Essential 8 Maturity Level 0

Indicative of significant weaknesses within an organisation’s overall cybersecurity framework. These vulnerabilities have the potential to undermine the security of confidential data, compromise the integrity of IT systems, and facilitate unauthorised system access, necessitating urgent remediation efforts.

Essential 8 Maturity Level 1

Focus is controlled on protecting against widely available cyber-security exploits that are opportunistically pointed at many targets, with examples including common social engineering techniques and emails with Microsoft Office files containing malicious macros.

Essential 8 Maturity Level 2

The Essential 8 Maturity Level 2 controls are geared towards countering advanced cyber adversaries capable of leveraging common tools with heightened tradecraft. These adversaries adeptly evade security measures, employing tactics such as refined phishing scams and intricate social engineering to breach defences effectively. As a result, additional measures are required to safeguard systems.

Essential 8 Maturity Level 3

In the final maturity level, adversaries are set apart from lower levels by being more adaptive and less reliant on commonly available tools and techniques. They exploit weaknesses in the target’s cyber-security posture that may be found in older software and inadequate monitoring and logging. These adversaries are willing and able to invest more time and effort to work around targets’ security controls.

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.

1. Application whitelisting

Only approved and authorised applications can run on a system.

2. Patch applications

Keep applications up to date with the latest security patches.

3. Application hardening

Restrict user privileges and capabilities to reduce the risk of cyber attacks.

4. Configuring systems to reduce attack surface area

Configure macro settings to block macros from the internet, and only allow vetted macros.

5. Controlling administrative privileges

Limit administrative privileges to only those who need them.

6. Restricting user access to systems and data

Require multi-factor authentication for all users who access sensitive information or systems.

7. Implementing application allowlisting

Only approved and authorised applications can run on a system.

8. Managing patch management processes

Keep operating systems up to date with the latest security patches.

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.

Work with an organisation that cares

If you’re looking for a partner who is invested in your success, contact us today. Whether you need assistance in building a robust network or enhancing your infrastructure, our team has the expertise, resources, and tools to help.

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Our Story

Empire Technologies, like many successful businesses, began with a humble origin story. We started as a team of passionate individuals driven by a common goal: to empower businesses through technology. As we have grown over the years, we have transformed into a trusted partner, offering expertise and solutions all over Australia that help our clients reach their business objectives.

As an Australian company, we understand the challenges of finding trusted IT and cyber security partners. That’s why we are committed to delivering high-quality services and products that make a difference. We take pride in our ability to provide tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring their success in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Need support with your Essential 8 cyber security?

If you are seeking more information into how the Essential 8 controls can benefit your organisation against cyber threats, get in touch today for a free consultation.

For organisations more advanced in their cyber security journey, take the first step to understanding your strengths and weaknesses with an Essential 8 cyber security assessment. Our team of experts can evaluate your current measures and identify areas that may require greater attention and improvement.

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, including:

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.

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.

Essential 8 cyber security: protecting your organisation

Implementing the Essential 8 controls is a critical step towards improving your organisation’s cyber security posture. Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect your assets and reputation from cyber threats. Contact a trusted cyber security provider like Empire Technologies today to get started with implementing the Essential 8 controls and securing your organisation’s information and systems.

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