The weakest controls are always the first ones tested.
Mid-sized Australian businesses are being targeted. Not randomly: because they’re running outdated controls. They’re missing patches. They’re letting weak admin rights and single sign-ons slide.
The Essential 8 exists to stop all that. It’s a set of eight technical controls, backed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). It is designed to prevent the most common and most damaging attacks.
Most organisations stall before reaching real maturity. If you’re evaluating providers, one thing matters upfront: look for someone who’s 100% Australian owned and operated.
This article gives you a practical roadmap. We’ll break down what each maturity level demands, which policies you need in place, and which tools support proper implementation.
Want to understand how security operations actually work behind the scenes? Find out: How Do Managed Security Services Work? Explained Simply.
What is the ASD Essential 8 Framework?
The Essential 8 is a control framework developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). It’s enforced and maintained through technical guidance published by the ACSC.
The aim is simple. Prevent the kinds of attacks that hit Australian businesses every day. The Essential 8 focuses on controls that are often ignored, poorly configured, or left incomplete.
The 8 Controls, in Plain English
Each of the eight mitigation strategies maps directly to a known attack vector.
- Application control: Stops unauthorised apps from executing
- Patch applications: Closes security holes in outdated software
- Configure Microsoft Office macros: Blocks macro-based malware delivery
- User application hardening: Reduces exploit surface in browsers and document viewers
- Restrict administrative privileges: Limits high-level access to those who actually need it
- Patch operating systems: Ensures vulnerabilities in Windows, macOS, or Linux don’t stay open
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Requires more than a password to access critical systems
- Regular backups: Ensures recovery is possible if systems are compromised
If even one of these is missing, you’re exposed. Most of the worst breaches start here.
Your Roadmap to Achieving Essential 8 Maturity
Before Level 1 exists, there’s Level 0. It’s the starting point for organisations with few or no Essential Eight controls implemented. At this stage, protections are minimal, and the risk of compromise is high. None of the Essential Eight controls are in place or functioning reliably.
Maturity Level 1: Get the basics in place
This is the minimum. At Level 1, your job is to close the biggest, most obvious holes.
You don’t need perfect automation. But you do need consistent policy. You need working controls. You need someone responsible for making sure they’re applied every time.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Application control
Only approved applications are allowed to run. Anything outside the whitelist is blocked. This stops malware from being executed through dodgy installers or attachments. - Patch applications
Outdated applications like browsers, PDF readers, and plugins are patched on a schedule. Known vulnerabilities are closed as soon as updates are available. - Patch operating systems
Windows, macOS, and Linux systems are updated regularly. Patching is consistent and logged, reducing the window of exposure to known exploits. - Microsoft Office macros
Macros are either disabled completely or locked down with strict policy. Many ransomware strains use macros as their delivery method. This shuts that door. - User application hardening
Unnecessary features in browsers and document readers are disabled. Default configurations are tightened to reduce exposure to common exploits. - Restrict administrative privileges
No one gets admin rights by default. Access is based on need, logged, and reviewed regularly. This limits lateral movement if credentials are compromised. - Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA is enabled on critical systems, even if enforcement isn’t universal yet. It adds a second layer of protection if credentials are exposed. - Regular backups
Backups are automated, separated from the live environment, and tested for recovery. A backup that hasn’t been tested might as well not exist.
For mid-sized businesses without internal cyber teams, these tasks often fall to overwhelmed IT generalists. That’s where smart service design matters. Cyber Security Services cover these Level 1 requirements with real automation, clear documentation, and operational follow-through.
Maturity Level 2: Move from Control to Enforcement
Level 2 is commonly regarded as the target maturity for most organisations seeking meaningful risk reduction. The ACSC’s Information Security Manual outlines exactly how those controls should be enforced and operated in regulated environments. This stage is about proving controls work. It’s about making sure someone is responsible for keeping them that way.
What changes at Level 2:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA is enforced across all critical systems. That includes internal apps, cloud platforms, and admin portals. If anything important can be accessed with just a password, it’s a problem. - Admin rights are tightly controlled
Access isn’t granted on trust or tenure. Temporary admin privileges are logged, time-limited, and automatically removed. Any unusual activity is flagged and reviewed. - Office macros are disabled by default
Macros can’t be turned on by users. Group policy blocks them unless a specific case is approved and documented. It’s locked unless someone makes a call to open it. - User application hardening is enforced
Browsers and document readers are stripped down. Features like Flash, ActiveX, and embedded scripts are disabled. Exploit surface is reduced to the minimum needed. - Application control is monitored and enforced
Only trusted apps run. Everything else is blocked or sandboxed. New software requests go through a proper review, not a helpdesk ticket. - Patch applications quickly
Application patching includes common targets like browsers, plugins, and third-party tools. Delays are tracked. Exceptions are rare. - Patch operating systems consistently
Patching isn’t reactive. It’s scheduled, logged, and prioritised based on threat context. Critical updates are rolled out without waiting for the next maintenance cycle. - Backups are verified regularly
Backups aren’t assumed. They’re tested for recovery, isolated from live systems, and versioned to protect against tampering.
Most teams can’t enforce these controls manually at scale. Tools like Managed Detection & Response make sure policies are applied consistently. They help ensure visibility doesn’t drop when things get busy. You stay in control without drowning your internal team.
Maturity Level 3: Make Security Continuous
Level 3 is rare. And for good reason. It requires systems that are constantly monitored and threats are responded to in real time. Its controls adjust with the environment.
Here’s what sets it apart:
- MFA adapts based on risk
MFA is enforced everywhere. It adjusts based on behaviour and risk. Suspicious logins trigger step-ups. If credentials are compromised, access is killed immediately. - Admin rights change with context
Privileges don’t stay static. If a user’s role changes, their access changes too. Temporary rights expire automatically. Any escalation gets reviewed in real time. - Patching follows live threat intel
Patches aren’t held for scheduled cycles. High-risk vulnerabilities are closed as soon as they’re identified. Priorities are driven by threat intelligence, not internal routines. - Application control is proven, not assumed
Allowlists are tested through simulated attacks. If a malicious payload gets through, the failure gets found and fixed. It’s validated continuously, not just set once. - Office macros are tightly governed
Macros stay blocked unless there’s a documented, approved reason. Even then, usage is monitored and reviewed. Nothing runs by accident. - User hardening is current
Browsers and document tools are stripped back and kept that way. Features that introduce risk are disabled by default and revisited regularly. - Backups are tested like it’s real
Recovery isn’t just possible. It’s rehearsed. Time to restore is known. Backup integrity is checked under pressure, not just compliance checks. - Logging closes the loop
Every control generates logs. Those logs are analysed and actioned. If something drifts, someone knows. Before an attacker does.
CrowdStrike gives you real-time detection, automatic containment, and visibility across your environment. It’s what makes Level 3 maturity possible without enterprise headcount. When controls are backed by smart policy and active oversight, they stop being theoretical.
For high-assurance environments, frameworks like the Protective Security Policy Framework PSPF expect this level of maturity in government and high-assurance environments.
Assessing Your Cyber Security Posture
You Can’t Improve What You Haven’t Measured
Before you start implementing controls, you need to know where you stand. That means measuring your maturity against an objective standard.
The ASD’s Essential Eight Maturity Model sets that benchmark. It breaks down each of the eight mitigation strategies and shows what’s required at Maturity Levels 1, 2 and 3.
Unfortunately, maturity isn’t based on averages. It’s based on the weakest control. One thing gets exposed, everything can fall apart. So if you’ve got MFA locked down, but patching is slow or inconsistent, you’re sitting at Level 1. That’s how the model works.
“Probably Fine” Isn’t Good Enough
Most cyber security incidents could have been avoided. Usually, businesses have either overestimated their maturity or assumed everything was handled. Unless someone has done a structured assessment, using the model as a reference, those assumptions don’t mean much.
Here’s what a useful assessment process looks like:
- Map each control against current implementation
Check if it exists, how it’s enforced, and whether it’s monitored. - Identify drift and exceptions
Find where controls are failing or being bypassed. This is where risk lives. - Validate with tools, not assumptions
Use platforms like CrowdStrike or Microsoft Defender for visibility. Don’t rely on manual spot checks. - Document your current maturity
This becomes your baseline for planning, remediation, and audit readiness.
For government or high-assurance environments, IRAP assessors may be required to provide formal validation.
This Isn’t One-and-Done
Security maturity shifts every time your environment does. That’s why annual assessments don’t cut it. They miss the changes that slowly erode control without anyone noticing.
Here’s what that looks like in real environments:
- New tools get rolled out
And they’re often deployed before controls are in place. Logging isn’t configured. Patching isn’t automated. No one reviews permissions until something breaks. - User roles change
People move teams, take on new projects, or get promoted. But access doesn’t always keep up. Admin rights linger. Old credentials remain active. That’s how exposure creeps in. - Patching starts slipping
It’s not always deliberate. But other priorities take over. Change boards stall. Third-party apps don’t get tracked. Vulnerabilities stay open longer than they should. - Cloud platforms evolve
New workloads spin up. Policies don’t always follow. What was secure last month isn’t guaranteed this month, especially in environments with self-service access. - Incidents get closed without lessons
Even when something goes wrong, most teams move on too fast. The root cause isn’t assessed. Controls don’t get adjusted. The same thing happens again, just with a different trigger.
If you’re aiming for Level 2 maturity or beyond, regular assessment is how you stay in control. It should be part of weekly operations, not an annual scramble.
Real-World Barriers to Implementation
Essential 8 maturity doesn’t break down because people don’t care. It breaks down because internal teams get stretched. Security becomes a collection of tools. There is no system.
Here’s what actually gets in the way:
- Legacy systems that can’t support controls
Outdated platforms often can’t enforce modern security policies. They don’t log activity properly. They can’t apply updates consistently. And they usually house critical data or workflows, making them hard to replace. - Tool sprawl and siloed platforms
Security tools are deployed across different teams with no integration. Alerts get missed. Monitoring overlaps. No one has a full view of what’s happening. Sprawl creates noise, not visibility. - Lack of clear ownership
No one is responsible for keeping controls enforced. Policies get written but not applied. Or worse, the responsibility is handed off to external providers with no oversight. Security becomes assumed, not verified. - Misplaced trust in vendors
Some MSPs say the job’s done because a feature is switched on. MFA is “enabled” but not enforced. Logging is active but never reviewed. It’s surface-level compliance, not operational security. - Controls without context
Security settings are applied the same way to every environment. There’s no consideration for risk, business impact, or real-world usage. That’s how controls get turned off “just this once” and never come back on.
Security needs more than checklists and dashboards. It needs tuning, testing, and real accountability. Otherwise, maturity is just a label.
We’ve seen how that plays out, and how tools like CrowdStrike Falcon support real enforcement and response. Find out more: What does CrowdStrike Falcon do for your business (beyond antivirus protection)?
Why Maturity Actually Matters
Essential 8 maturity gives your business stability under pressure. Controls work. Access is enforced. Recovery is doable.
- Incident response that works
When something goes wrong, you already know how it’ll be contained. You have logs. You have alerts. You have backups. You’re not starting from zero, under pressure. - Audit readiness built into operations
When regulators or auditors show up, you don’t have to scramble. You’ve already documented control ownership and evidence. That removes risk and stress from the process. - Fewer critical failures
Mature environments catch misconfigurations and failures early. If a patch hasn’t applied or MFA is bypassed, someone knows, and fixes it. You avoid the chain reactions that turn small issues into business-wide incidents. - Better vendor and client confidence
Your partners and customers now expect mature controls. It’s part of onboarding. It’s part of insurance. When you can demonstrate Level 2 maturity or higher, it protects, and it becomes a business asset. - Operational clarity
Your team knows what’s enforced, what’s monitored, and what’s expected. You’re not relying on tribal knowledge or workarounds. That means less chaos when people leave or systems change.
You don’t need perfection. You need time to respond. That’s where the right tooling matters. Learn more: How Does CrowdStrike Work? Diving Into AI-Powered Threat Neutralisation.
No Enforcement? No Protection.
The Essential 8 is what regulated Australian businesses should already be building towards. Not for compliance. For control.
When the right controls are enforced, you gain clarity. You know what’s protected and what’s exposed. You know how to respond when something bad happens.
If you’re reviewing partners, ask one question early. Are they 100% Australian owned and operated? If not, they won’t understand the regulatory pressure you’re under. And they won’t design security that holds up under real conditions.
At Osmicro, we work with businesses who don’t just want security systems that perform under pressure. Built on the Essential 8 maturity model. Tested. Tuned. Backed by operational discipline.
See how we approach the Essential 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ASD Essential 8?
The ASD Essential 8 is a set of eight security controls defined by the Australian Signals Directorate. It’s designed to block the most common attack methods used against Australian businesses. The controls cover things like patching, MFA, admin rights, and backups.
How do I assess my current maturity level?
Start by comparing your environment against the ASD’s maturity model. Each control is rated separately. Your lowest-performing one sets your overall level. Use real tools, not assumptions. Internal audits are useful, but third-party assessments provide stronger validation.
What tools support Essential 8 implementation?
It depends on your environment, but common platforms include CrowdStrike, Tenable, and Microsoft Defender. What matters is visibility, automation, and enforcement. Tools only work when they’re configured and monitored properly.
How long does it take to achieve maturity level 2 or higher?
It depends on your starting point. If controls are already in place, you might reach Level 2 in weeks with the right support. If you’re starting from scratch, plan for a phased rollout across systems. Maturity isn’t a project. It’s an operating state.