Essential Eight Audit & Compliance
Secure your organisation by ensuring compliance with the government mandated Essential Eight framework.
Who is Essential Eight Cyber Security Audit for?
An Essential Eight audit is a process of evaluating an organisation’s cyber security posture to ensure compliance with the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
The Essential Eight were designed to help organisations protect themselves against various cyber threats. All organisations that deal with confidential information or maintain critical systems should conduct an Essential 8 assessment. This includes small, medium, and large enterprises, government departments, non-profit organisations, and any other type of organisation.
How an Essential 8 Audit works
Holocron Cyber employs experienced security consultants to facilitate the delivery of the ACSC Essential Eight audit. The methodology involves several phases, as outlined below:
Phase 1: Plan & Prepare
Holocron consultants focus on identifying the key components of the customer’s systems that are involved with processing and handling information or data.
Phase 2: Engage & Gather Evidence
Using existing documentation and interviewing subject matter experts, Holocron gather evidence of compliance with the Essential Eight. This phase may involve several workshops with key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive understanding of the overall cyber security posture of the organisation.
Phase 3: Analyse & Assess
The evidence collected during the previous stage is compiled and examined. Analysis of this evidence is conducted to determine maturity levels in line with the Essential Eight framework. A formal set of criteria must be met for each maturity level. Areas of non-compliance are assessed, and a report is developed that provides guidance on areas for remediation.
The Essential Eight Assessment Timeframe
The 3-phase approach can be customised to suit your timeframe and requirements, however, it will typically be a 4-week timeframe with the following breakdown of tasks:
Week 1: Initial consultation
Meet with stakeholders in the organisation to understand the organisation’s business and its information security infrastructure.
Gather information and contact details on any key stakeholders, third-party companies, or platforms used.
Week 2-3: Engage & Gather Evidence
Conduct a thorough review of the organisation’s information security systems and practices.
Review documentation, observe processes, and test systems and controls.
Gather data and evidence to help evaluate the organisation’s compliance with the Essential Eight.
Conduct workshops with key stakeholders to develop a greater understanding of the organisation’s systems and processes.
Weeks 3-4: Analyse & Assess
Evaluate the current state of the organisation’s security posture against each of the Essential Eight controls.
Develop a report that summarises the findings and highlights any recommendations for improvement.
Meet with key stakeholders in the organisation to discuss the findings and recommendations in the report.
Present the final report and walkthrough recommendations for improving the organisation’s Essential Eight maturity ratings.
What is in involved in an Essential 8 Cyber Security Audit
During an Essential Eight audit, our consultants will review the organisation’s compliance against each of the Essential Eight strategies to mitigate cyber security incidents. These include:
Application Control
The process of controlling which applications can be installed and used on an organisation’s network. This control ensures that only approved applications are installed, and that they are regularly updated and patched.
Patch Applications
The process of regularly updating applications to the latest version to ensure the security of the organisation’s systems. This control patches applications to fix any known vulnerabilities and prevent cyber attacks.
Configure MS Office Macro Settings
The process of controlling if macros are disabled for users that do not have a demonstrated business requirement. This control protects against malicious macros that can be used to spread malware and gain access to systems.
User Application Hardening
The process of restricting a user’s access to certain applications. This control help ensure that applications are sufficiently hardened with particular functions that could allow malicious activities being disabled or removed.
Restrict Administrative Privileges
The process of controlling privileged access to applications and systems and ensuring that access is validated upon request. This control helps organisartions restrict access to sensitive data and prevent malicious activity on the network.
Patch Operating Systems
The process of regularly deploying patches to the organisation’s operating systems. This control ensures the operating system in updated to the latest version to fix any known security vulnerabilities.
Multi-Factor Authentication
The process of requiring users to provide additional authentication methods, such as a PIN or biometric, when accessing the organisation’s network. This control ensures that only authorised users have access to sensitive data.
Regular Backups
The process of regularly performing backups of important data, software and configuration settings and retaining them in a resilient manner. This control ensures that any data can be recovered in the event of a cyber attack.
The benefits of an Essential Eight Audit for your organisation
Compliance
An Essential Eight audit can help ensure that an organisation is in compliance with a government-mandated information security framework.
Risk assessment
An audit can help an organisation identify and assess potential vulnerabilities in its information security systems and practices. This can help the organisation prioritise its efforts to improve its security posture.
Improved security
An audit can help an organisation identify weaknesses in its information security systems and practices and implement measures to address those weaknesses. This can help improve the organisation's overall security posture.
Customer trust
An Essential 8 audit can help an organisation demonstrate to its customers, clients, and partners that it takes information security seriously and is committed to protecting sensitive data.
Cost savings
Implementing effective information security measures can help an organisation avoid costly data breaches and other security incidents. An Essential 8 Assessment can help the organisation identify the most cost-effective measures to implement.
The risks of NOT performing an Essential 8 Assessment
Compliance risks
If an organisation is required to comply with specific regulations or standards related to information security, and it does not conduct an audit to ensure compliance, it may be subject to fines and penalties.
Security vulnerabilities
If an organisation does not conduct an audit to identify and assess potential vulnerabilities in its information security systems and practices, it may be at higher risk for data breaches and other security incidents.
Loss of sensitive data
If an organisation's information security systems and practices are inadequate, it may be at risk for losing sensitive data, which could have serious consequences for the organisation and its customers or clients.
Reputational damage
If an organisation experiences a data breach or other security incident, it may suffer damage to its reputation, which could lead to loss of customers or clients.
Increased costs
If an organisation does not conduct an audit to identify and address weaknesses in its information security systems and practices, it may be at higher risk for data breaches and other security incidents, which can be costly to remediate.
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