The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Essential 8 (E8) is a set of baseline mitigation strategies designed to protect organizations from cyber threats. These strategies, when implemented effectively, can significantly reduce an organization's risk of being compromised.
Why Essential 8?
While organizations differ in operations and risk profiles, implementing the ACSC's Essential 8 (E8) mitigation strategies serves as a crucial baseline. These strategies make it tougher for adversaries to compromise systems. The ACSC has found that effectively implementing the Essential 8 strategies can mitigate up to 85% of cyber threats. Proactive implementation is more cost-effective than reacting to cyber incidents.
ACSC's Essential 8 Controls
The Essential Eight strategies aim to enhance cybersecurity by mitigating malware delivery, limiting incident impact, and ensuring efficient recovery. The mitigation strategies that constitute the Essential Eight are:
Application Control
Manage the use of applications to prevent unauthorized or malicious software from running.
Patch Applications
Regularly update software to protect against known vulnerabilities and cyber threats.
Restrict Microsoft Office Macros
Configure Microsoft Office to block macros from the internet and only allow trusted macros to run.
User Application Hardening
Secure applications by disabling unnecessary features that could be exploited by attackers.
Restrict Administrative Privileges
Regularly update software to protect against known vulnerabilities and cyber threats.
Patch Operating Systems
Keep operating systems up to date to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
Multi-factor Authentication
It involves malicious actors using readily available tradecraft to gain system access and control.
Regular Backups
Backup critical data regularly to ensure it can be restored in the event of data loss or a cyber-attack.
Essential 8
Maturity Level
Organizations implementing the Essential Eight should begin by defining a target maturity level suitable for their environment. These levels range from Maturity Level Zero to Maturity Level Three, each addressing progressively higher levels of trade craft (tools, tactics, techniques, and procedures) and targeting. Malicious actors may vary in their tradecraft depending on the operation and target, underscoring the need for flexible security measures.
Maturity Level Zero
It indicates weaknesses in an organization's cybersecurity posture, which, if exploited, could compromise data confidentiality, integrity, or availability.
Maturity Level One
It involves malicious actors using readily available tradecraft to gain system access and control.
Maturity Level Two
It involves malicious actors with slightly higher capabilities, willing to invest more time and effort into their tools.
Maturity Level Three
It involves adaptive malicious actors who rely less on public tools, exploiting weaknesses in target’s cybersecurity postures.
ACSC E8
ESSENTIAL 8 MATURITY ASSESSMENT APPROACH
Risk Associates offers a thorough Essential Eight maturity assessment, helping organizations evaluate their alignment with these critical cybersecurity controls. Our process includes the following steps:
Scope Assessment
Validate assessment scope and ensure coverage of defined system components and business applications.
Initial Gap Analysis
Review documentation and technology controls for in-scope systems. Identify early findings and non-compliance areas for prompt remediation.
Audit and Risk Assessment
Conduct an objective audit using specialized tools to measure cyber-risk exposure and maturity of systems and applications.
Risk-Based Review
Evaluate IT security processes and controls to establish compliance baseline and maturity level.
Assessment
Assess the efficacy of existing controls against cybersecurity threats.
Risk-Based Review
Remediation Planning: Collaborate with key stakeholders and asset owners to: - Identify practical solutions and mitigation options. - Develop a tailored roadmap to enhance maturity aligned with business goals.
Supportive Guidance
Provide ongoing guidance during remediation to meet compliance and risk management objectives.
Final Presentation
Prepare and deliver a customised presentation to key stakeholders and board members, addressing both business and technical aspects.
