Phishing, ransomware, supply-chain attacks, targeted data breaches – these types of cyber threats are no longer rare. They’re happening to businesses across Australia with increasing frequency and sophistication, and can have devastating consequences for your organisation.
To help your business defend against common cyber threats, the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Essential Eight outlines a practical, prioritised set of baseline security measures.
Let’s discuss how you can implement the Essential Eight cyber security controls in a way that suits your organisation’s goals, maturity level and resourcing – as well as support options for planning, technical implementation and ongoing maturity uplift to make these controls effective.
What is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight cyber security framework was developed by the ACSC to help organisations strengthen their defences against common cyber threats.
These eight mitigation strategies provide a baseline level of protection and can be tailored to suit your business’s risk profile and IT environment. They include:
1. Application Control
Restrict which applications can run on your systems to prevent malicious or unapproved software from executing.
2. Patch Applications
Regularly update and patch applications to fix known vulnerabilities, which attackers often exploit.
3. Configure Microsoft Office Macros
Block or limit macros from the internet and unknown sources to reduce the risk of malicious code being executed through Office documents.
4. User Application Hardening
Disable unnecessary features in web browsers, document readers and other applications to limit opportunities for exploitation.
5. Restrict Administrative Privileges
Grant admin rights to only those who need them, reducing the potential impact of compromised accounts.
6. Patch Operating Systems
Keep your operating systems up-to-date by applying security patches promptly to close critical vulnerabilities and maintain system integrity.
7. Multi-Factor Authentication
Require multiple forms of verification for logins to make it harder for attackers to gain unauthorised access.
8. Regular Backups
Maintain secure backups to ensure critical data can be restored quickly, in the case of a security incident.
Why the Essential Eight Matters for Your Business
Strengthening your defences using the Essential Eight can safeguard your business against increasingly common cyber threats and costly risks.
The Risks of Non-Compliance
Failing to implement a cyber security framework (the Essential Eight, or otherwise) can expose your organisation to serious consequences, which can be swift and severe.
Consider, for instance, if your business fell victim to ransomware or a data breach. The fallout could include expensive remediation, regulatory fines, costly downtime and loss of customer trust.
Without strong protections, your business could be a prime target for ransomware and other forms of cybercrime. Recent research reveals more than two-thirds of Australian organisations have experienced a ransomware attack in the past five years, and among those, the large majority ended up paying ransom. According to another recent report, data breaches cost Australian organisations an average of A$4.26 million per incident.
Neither are SMEs exempt, with small business now facing an average cost of $49,600 (AUD) per cybercrime incident.
The good news is this. The Essential Eight offers a practical roadmap and foundation for building resilience and compliance readiness. It can even support your business’s eligibility for things like insurance and tenders.
Key Benefits for Your Business
Adopting the Essential Eight can offer your business a range of benefits, including:
- improved resilience – keep your systems online, protect your data and enable recovery options, without crippling losses.
- insurance eligibility – when insurers require proof of strong cyber security practices, implementing Essential Eight can help your organisation meet these criteria.
- tender & contract readiness – for government or enterprise tenders that demand certain security standards, being able to demonstrate Essential Eight maturity can give you a competitive edge.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementation
It’s possible to implement the Essential Eight cyber security framework in a few manageable stages. Use the following steps to apply each control consistently and effectively.
You may also like to consider gaining support with cyber security framework implementation from a trusted, experienced IT partner, like Future IT Services.
Step 1: Conduct a Cyber Risk Assessment
Start by identifying your critical assets, data, applications and systems. Assess potential threats and vulnerabilities to understand where your biggest risks lie. This can help you determine how to prioritise controls effectively.
Step 2: Prioritise Controls Based on Risk
Not all businesses face the same level of exposure in all areas.
Tailor your Essential Eight implementation to match your organisation’s needs and maturity level. Focus on controls that address your most critical vulnerabilities first.
Step 3: Develop an Implementation Plan
Outline clear timelines, assign responsibilities and allocate resourcing for each control.
Having a structured plan can help you maintain accountability and keep progress on track across technical and management teams.
Step 4: Execute and Monitor
Put your plan into action, testing and configuring each control.
Regularly monitor results, gather feedback, refine your approach and commit to continuous improvement to uplift your maturity level.
What are the Essential Eight Maturity Levels?
The Essential Eight cyber security model is measured against four maturity levels defined by the ACSC. These levels can help you assess how effectively you’ve implemented each control, and identify where to improve next.
Maturity Level 0: Not Practised
At this beginner stage, an organisation has significant weaknesses, with either ineffective or unimplemented controls. Systems remain highly vulnerable to cyber threats.
Maturity Level 1: Partly Practised
This level signifies some or all essential controls are in place, but gaps remain that can still be exploited by common attack methods.
Maturity Level 2: Mostly Practised
For this maturity stage, organisations have applied most controls consistently and reduced exposure to many common threats. However, they may still be vulnerable to targeted or sophisticated attacks.
Maturity Level 3: Fully Practised
As the most advanced level of maturity, an organisation has controls that are fully implemented, actively monitored and maintained. The business demonstrates strong resilience and is aligned with ACSC best practice.
Interested in gaining support with Essential Eight implementation, or improving your business’s current maturity level? As an experienced, professional cyber security partner, Future IT Services is well-versed empowering organisations with the Essential Eight framework. Our specialists can help you prioritise risk areas, develop a clear roadmap, implement effective controls and support continuous improvement.
With structured assessments, practical implementation support and ongoing monitoring, we can help your organisation progress towards higher maturity and stronger cyber resilience.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Implementing Essential Eight cyber security controls can feel complex, particularly if you’re a smaller business or have limited resources.
Let’s discuss some of the most common barriers to implementation, and how you can overcome them.
Lack of Leadership Buy-In
It’s reasonable that without executive backing, cyber initiatives can lose momentum.
Consider linking security outcomes with business goals. (Think: reducing risk, developing customer trust, supporting hybrid or remote work, aligning with compliance requirements.)
A trusted partner, like Future IT Services, can help you communicate benefits in clear business terms to build understanding at the leadership level.
Limited Internal Expertise
Understandably, many teams lack the specialised skills to configure or maintain Essential Eight controls effectively.
Getting support from experienced cyber security professionals is a great way to gain practical guidance, implement controls and even upskill your internal team members for long-term success.
Budget Constraints
If you’re facing limited resourcing, just remember cyber improvements don’t need to happen all at once.
Our cyber security specialists, for instance, have helped many businesses prioritise high-impact, cost-effective measures at their own pace, developing staged implementation plans that align with available budgets.
Resistance to Change
Staff adoption can make or break new security processes. Support a smooth transition by using clear communication, practical training and tailored user engagement strategies.
Overcome these common challenges with confidence by partnering with Future IT Services, and turn Essential Eight controls into sustainable, organisation-wide practices.
Protect Your Business with Essential Eight Controls
Improving your security posture won’t happen overnight. But the Essential Eight cyber security framework offers a clear, achievable pathway for progression.
Consider the value of reducing risk, protecting data, supporting business continuity and building trust with your customers and key stakeholders. Start your journey today.
Need advice or support implementing Essential Eight controls? Get in touch with Future IT Services to find out how we can help you assess and improve your current maturity level.