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With the associated costs of cybercrime rising by 17% in 2024, knowing how to protect your business is more important than ever. The good news? Cyber security doesn’t have to be overwhelming or out of reach.
The Essential Eight Maturity Model is a straightforward, government-backed security framework designed to help organisations tighten their defences and build resilience against cyber threats—no matter their size or budget.
What is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight is a set of cyber security strategies developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). While initially created as a baseline for federal government departments, it’s since been widely adopted by state governments and private organisations alike—and for good reason. It’s practical, scalable, and directly targets the vulnerabilities attackers rely on most. Implementing these measures proactively is far more cost-effective—in time, money, and effort—than responding to a major cyber incident after it happens.
While it won’t make your organisation invincible, the Essential Eight establishes a strong foundation with measurable benefits: better protection against common threats, quicker responses during incidents, improved compliance with privacy standards, and smoother recovery. It also sends a clear message to your clients and partners that cyber security is a serious priority for your organisation.
The Eight Strategies
Each of the eight strategies aims to block or mitigate common cyberattacks faced by Australian organisations, particularly those involving human error or basic system vulnerabilities:
- Application Control: Blocks unapproved or malicious software from running.
- Patch Applications: Fixes known vulnerabilities in third-party software.
- Patch Operating Systems: Ensures operating systems are updated regularly to avoid known exploits.
- Multi-Factor Authentication: Adds a second security layer to user logins.
- Restrict Admin Privileges: Limits high-level system access strictly to those who require it.
- Configure Office Macro Settings: Prevents malicious scripts from executing in Microsoft Office documents.
- User Application Hardening: Disables risky or unnecessary software features (e.g., Flash, Java).
- Regular Backups: Ensures quick data restoration in the event of an incident.
Maturity Levels Explained
Each Essential Eight strategy is measured across four Maturity Levels, helping your organisation track progress and effectively prioritise improvements:
- Maturity Level Zero: Little or no cyber security measures in place, leaving high exposure to attacks.
- Maturity Level One: Basic controls exist but are inconsistent or limited to specific areas of the business.
- Maturity Level Two: Security practices are structured, consistent, and broadly applied, providing robust protection against targeted threats.
- Maturity Level Three: Controls are automated, fully integrated, and optimised—ideal for high-risk environments requiring advanced protection.
For most small-to-medium organisations, aiming initially for Maturity Level One provides a substantial security uplift and is realistically achievable.
How To Implement the Essential Eight
To implement the Essential Eight effectively, begin by identifying the most suitable maturity level target for your organisation. Next, systematically work through each of the eight strategies, ensuring you achieve consistent maturity levels across all areas before progressing higher.
Every business operates differently—your infrastructure, team structure, cloud platforms, and compliance requirements all influence how these strategies should be prioritised. The best Essential Eight implementations are tailored specifically to your organisation’s workflows and existing IT environment.
Organisations can perform a self-assessment using ACSC guidelines; there’s no mandatory requirement for independent certification—although we’re always here to assist if you’d prefer expert guidance.
Ready To Get Started?
We help organisations of all sizes take practical steps towards Essential Eight compliance. Whether you’re after a quick assessment or a comprehensive rollout, we simplify the process and ensure it aligns clearly with your business goals.
Want to know exactly where your business stands?
Get in touch here — we'd love to help.
