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Essential Eight designed to Protect organisations

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has created prioritised strategies, the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents, to help organisations protect themselves from cyber threats. The most successful of these is the Essential Eight Maturity Model.

Essential Eight maturity model

The Essential Eight maturity model (E8MM) can be used in two ways. First, and primarily, it can be used to assist organizations in implementing the Essential Eight in a gradual manner based on the different levels of tradecraft and targeting used by malicious actors. Second, it can also be used to assess an organization’s cybersecurity maturity. The E8MM consists of three levels. The maturity levels build off of each other, with each level representing a step towards a more resilient cybersecurity posture. This ensures the framework adapts to different organizational needs. Higher maturity levels require organizations to implement more controls associated with each mitigation strategy. For example, there are seven controls associated with multi-factor authentication at Level One and twelve controls at Level Two. Organizations will need to meet the previous level in order to get compliant with the next level. For example, an organization must be compliant with Maturity Level One prior to getting compliant with Maturity Level Two.

Essential Eight cybersecurity framework and its impact

94,000 K +

Cybercrime Frequency

68%

Ransomware Severity

98+

Mandate for NCCEs

3

Maturity Levels

Core Components of the Essential Eight

Certifyi aligns with ASD’s eight mitigation strategies to address modern cyberthreats:

  1. Application Control
    Block unauthorized software execution via automated allow/deny lists.

  2. Patch Applications
    Prioritize and automate patching using vulnerability databases like CISA’s KEV Catalog.

  3. Restrict Microsoft Office Macros
    Enforce macro restrictions with policy-driven controls.

  4. User Application Hardening
    Disable risky features (e.g., Flash, Java) via centralized configuration management.

  5. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    Deploy phishing-resistant MFA (e.g., FIDO2-certified tokens) for all privileged accounts.

  6. Patch Operating Systems
    Automate OS updates with fortnightly vulnerability scans.

  7. Restrict Administrative Privileges
    Implement just-in-time access and Secure Admin Workstations (SAWs).

  8. Regular Backups
    Schedule encrypted, immutable backups with automated integrity checks.

Certifyi's Implementation Approach

Certifyi maps compliance progress to ASD’s four maturity levels:

Maturity LevelTarget OrganizationsKey Requirements
Level 0Non-compliant systemsBaseline hardening
Level 1SMEsBasic threat protection
Level 2Large enterprisesAdvanced adversaries
Level 3Critical infrastructureNation-state threats
Automated Evidence Collection

Continuous monitoring of controls (e.g., MFA adoption rates, patch compliance).

Risk-Based Prioritization

AI-driven insights to address high-impact vulnerabilities first.

Vendor Risk Management

Track third-party compliance with security ratings and geolocation analytics.

Benefits of Certifyi Essential Eight

Certifyi offers several key advantages that empower organizations to streamline compliance, manage risks effectively, and build trust with stakeholders. Here are three key advantages of using Certifyi:

Automation for Simplified Compliance

Certifyi automates time-consuming compliance processes, such as evidence collection, reporting, and controls testing. By leveraging AI and machine learning, the platform:

  • Reduces manual effort by automating tasks like regulatory reporting and audit preparation.

  • Maintains continuous compliance through scheduled evidence updates and automated alerts for failing controls.

  • Provides prebuilt templates for frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA, allowing organizations to meet multiple regulatory requirements effortlessly

Proactive Risk Management

Certifyi enhances risk management with AI-driven insights that help organizations identify and mitigate risks before they escalate. Key features include:

  • Real-time risk monitoring with predictive analytics to assess the likelihood and impact of potential threats.

  • Automated alerts for nonconformities or misconfigurations in security controls.

  • Tailored remediation guidance to address vulnerabilities quickly, ensuring a stronger security posture.

Scalability and Adaptability

Certifyi is designed to scale with organizations of all sizes, from startups to enterprises. Its flexible architecture supports:

  • Cloud-based and hybrid environments, making it suitable for diverse IT ecosystems.

  • Seamless integration with existing tools (e.g., Slack, Jira) for enhanced collaboration.

  • Multi-framework compliance management via a unified platform, enabling organizations to adapt to changing regulatory landscapes efficiently.

These advantages make Certifyi an essential tool for organizations seeking to reduce compliance complexity, proactively manage risks, and build trust with stakeholders.

Why Choose Certifyi? Dashboard

Certifyi stands out as a comprehensive platform for governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), offering unique advantages that empower organizations to streamline compliance processes, proactively manage risks, and build trust with stakeholders. 

  1. Time Savings: Automate repetitive tasks like evidence collection and reporting, saving hours of manual effort weekly.

  2. Improved Visibility: Gain a clear understanding of your organization’s security posture at a glance.

  3. Proactive Risk Management: Address vulnerabilities before they escalate into compliance failures or breaches.

  4. Scalability: Manage compliance for organizations of any size—from small businesses to enterprises—across IT environments.

  5. Audit Readiness: Be prepared for assessments with audit-ready documentation and real-time compliance tracking.

FAQ

Certifyi’s Essential Eight Dashboard is a centralized platform that automates the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Essential Eight mitigation strategies. It provides real-time insights, automated workflows, and tools to help organizations achieve compliance across all maturity levels.

The dashboard offers:

  • Real-Time Monitoring: Track compliance status for all eight strategies in alignment with ASD’s maturity model.

  • Automated Alerts: Receive notifications for failing controls, overdue tasks, or non-compliance issues.

  • Compliance Scorecard: Visualize progress toward achieving higher maturity levels with dynamic charts and heatmaps.

Key features include:

Automated Evidence Collection: Automatically gather evidence for patching, application control, MFA implementation, and more.

Gap Analysis: Identify areas of non-compliance and receive actionable remediation plans.

Customizable Reports: Generate detailed compliance reports tailored to frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Vendor Management: Monitor third-party vendor compliance with security ratings and risk assessments.

Integration Support: Seamlessly connect with tools like Slack & Microsoft Team.

Yes, Certifyi’s dashboard is designed to support all maturity levels (0–3) of the Essential Eight framework. Organizations can progressively implement controls for each level while tracking their progress in real time.

Absolutely! Certifyi is designed to scale with organizations of all sizes:

  • Manage compliance across multiple departments or subsidiaries.

  • Support hybrid environments including cloud-based workloads.

  • Handle unlimited users and vendors with tiered access controls.

Contact Certifyi’s team for tailored implementation plans based on your organization’s needs.

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