Essential 8 Assessment

Essential 8 Assessment

We evaluate organisations on the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essential 8 for enhanced cybersecurity and risk management.

Importance of Essential 8

Essential 8 mitigates risks and strengthens your organisation's cybersecurity posture effectively.

Implementation Risks

Failure to implement can lead to data breaches and significant financial losses.

Assessment Process Steps

We guide you through the essential steps for effective Essential 8 implementation.

Understanding the Essential 8 Framework

The Essential 8 is a cybersecurity framework outlined by the ASD (Australian Signals Directorate) that focuses on improving organisations' resilience against cyber threats. It includes eight critical security strategies that can significantly reduce risks, these are outlined below;

1. Patch Applications

2. Patch Operating Systems

3. Multi-Factor Authentiction

4. Restrict admin privileges

5. Application Control

6. Restrict Microsoft Office macros

7. User Application Hardening

8. Regular Backups

Implementing these strategies, however, can be a complex task for many organisations.

These challenges include a lack of understanding of the framework's components, resource limitations, and competing organisational priorities. Additionally, organisations often struggle with integrating these strategies into their existing systems effectively.

What are the benefits of Essential Eight controls in an organisation?

• Increased Security: Enhances protection against known cyber threats by focusing on critical areas of defense

• Reduced Risk: Lowers the likelihood of falling victim to cyber-attacks, minimising potential damage

• Better Compliance: Helps organisations meet various cybersecurity regulations and standards, such as ISO, CIS, or NIST

• Improved Resilience: Strengthens the organisation's ability to withstand and recover from advanced persistent threats (APTs)

• Cost Savings: Reduces financial losses associated with cyber incidents, including downtime and recovery costs

• Enhanced Data Protection: Safeguards sensitive information through robust security measures

• Operational Continuity: Ensures business operations remain uninterrupted by mitigating the impact of cyber threats

• Reputation Management: Protects the organisation's reputation by preventing data breaches and other security incidents

What are the potential risks of NOT implementing the Essential Eight controls?

• Increased Vulnerability to Cyber Attacks: Without the Essential 8, your systems are more susceptible to malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats.

• Data Breaches: Lack of proper security measures can lead to unauthorised access and data breaches, compromising sensitive information.

• Financial Losses: Cyber incidents can result in significant financial losses due to downtime, recovery costs, and potential fines

• Reputation Damage: A security breach can harm your organisation's reputation, leading to loss of customer trust and potential business opportunities

• Regulatory Non-Compliance: Failure to implement the Essential 8 may result in non-compliance with industry regulations and standards, leading to legal consequences

• Operational Disruption: Cyber attacks can disrupt business operations, causing delays and impacting productivity

• Increased Recovery Time and Costs: Without the Essential 8, recovering from a cyber incident can be more time-consuming and costly

• Loss of Intellectual Property: Cyber threats can lead to the theft of intellectual property, affecting your competitive advantage

How CobTech Can Assist

CobTech offers specialised services tailored to help organisations understand and implement the Essential 8 effectively. Our expert team can assist you in crafting a robust cybersecurity plan that integrates the Essential 8 into your organisational framework seamlessly.

During the Essential Eight audit, we will discover areas where your organisation excels in cyber security and possible gaps that might expose your company to cyber attacks.
Our results will be presented in the form of a detailed report with practical suggestions for rectification and improvement.

With CobTech, you can navigate the complexities of the Essential 8 framework with confidence. Let us take care of the implementation challenges, allowing your organisation to focus on its core operations while significantly enhancing its cybersecurity posture.

Please have a read of our FAQ'S for any frequently asked questions about our services