Cybersecurity / ASD

Why the ASD’s Essential Eight is Non-Negotiable

In today’s threat landscape, cybersecurity isn’t optional. For Australian organisations, the Essential Eight is the clearest baseline for practical risk reduction. It’s no longer a “government-only” framework—it’s the minimum standard for resilience.

What is the Essential Eight?

The Essential Eight (E8) is a prioritised set of mitigation strategies designed to reduce the most common and damaging cyber attacks. It is maintained by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).

The framework includes a maturity model (Levels 0–3), allowing organizations to benchmark their current posture and plan a staged uplift.

Why It Matters for Private Business

Beyond the public sector, E8 is increasingly the standard because:

  • Insurers use it as a baseline for calculating premiums.
  • Regulators view it as evidence of taking "reasonable steps" for risk management.
  • Supply Chains often require proof of E8 maturity from vendors.

The Three Pillars of Defense

The controls are grouped into three outcomes: Prevent, Limit, and Recover.

1. Prevent Attacks

  • Application Control
  • Patch Applications
  • Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings
  • User Application Hardening

2. Limit Extent

  • Restrict Admin Privileges
  • Patch Operating Systems
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

3. Recover Data

  • Regular Backups
  • Recovery Testing

How We Can Help

Our Microsoft 365 Security Assessment benchmarks your tenant against the Essential Eight and ISM. You receive a prioritized roadmap to achieve Maturity Level 1, 2, or 3.

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Don't guess your security posture. Get an independent assessment.

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