Navigating the Latest DISP Changes: Why the Essential 8 Matters More Than Ever

Australia’s defence industry is undergoing a security transformation. The Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) saw pivotal cyber compliance reforms between September 2024 and July 2025, designed to confront escalating threats and align the supply chain with government best practices.

Whether you’re a long-time DISP member or a new applicant, understanding what’s changed—and why it matters—is crucial to protecting your eligibility for tenders, securing sensitive information, and building business resilience.

What Changed in the DISP in 2025?

The latest DISP reforms have reshaped the baseline for cyber security in the defence sector:

1. Expansion to Full Essential Eight:

Until October 2024, DISP required only the “Top 4” Essential Eight strategies. After the 2024 update, all DISP applicants and renewals must implement and maintain the full Essential Eight mitigation strategies, at Maturity Level 2—addressing threats from opportunistic, targeted, and advanced adversaries.

2. Stronger Requirements for Compliance:

The reforms require regular, detailed cyber security reporting, including a robust questionnaire at application and renewal. Members must actively manage controls (not just implement them “once”) and keep improving maturity over time.

3. Alignment with National Priorities:

DISP now aligns directly with the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) recommendations, the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), and upcoming legislative and grant program priorities focused on the sovereign defence base.

Why Do These DISP Changes Matter?

1. Compliance Is Business-Critical:

Meeting DISP’s new cyber and assurance standards is now mandatory for all serious defence suppliers. Non-compliance can mean losing access to Defence contracts, heightened audit risk, and reputational damage.

2. Threats Are Evolving:

Advanced persistent threats, ransomware, and supply chain compromise are now mainstream risks for all defence contractors. By uplifting cyber security maturity, companies protect not only their own data but also safeguard Australia’s national interests.

3. Ongoing Uplift Is Essential:

It’s no longer acceptable to assess once and ‘set and forget’. The expectation is for continual improvement and regular re-assessment aligned to evolving threats and requirements.

What Is the Essential 8—and Why Does It Matter Now?

The Essential 8 consists of eight strategies developed by the ASD to help organisations defend against, respond to, and recover from cyber threats:

• Application whitelisting
• Patch management
• Restricting administrative privileges
• Application hardening
• User application control
• Multi-factor authentication
• Regular backups
• Restricting macro use and scripting

DISP now mandates all eight strategies—not just “the Top 4″—at Maturity Level 2. This means more than technical implementation: it involves proactive management, routine testing, and regular validation of protective measures.

Industry Best Practices

• Start with a cyber gap assessment, mapping current controls against E8 ML2.
• Invest in staff training—not just technology—to prevent phishing, social engineering, and configuration errors.
• Schedule routine maturity reviews; treat cyber posture as a continuous improvement process, not a static tick-box.
• Use DISP Portal features for structured cyber reporting, tracking progress, and engaging with Defence for clarification when needed.

How Can Virtuelle Group Help — Your DISP Compliance Partner

At Virtuelle Group, we support organisations through the entire DISP and Essential 8 journey:

• Compliance Gap Assessment: Get a comprehensive review of your current cyber posture against the latest DISP requirements and Essential Eight controls.
• Roadmaps & Uplift: We design practical, priority-driven action plans to close compliance gaps and build lasting cyber resilience.
• End-to-End Implementation: Our team supports technology deployment, staff training, process documentation, and audit preparation.
• Continuous Improvement: With ongoing advisory and review services, we help Australian defence suppliers demonstrate maturity, readiness, and proactive cyber risk management.

Ready to Turn Compliance Burden Into Business Advantage?

Don’t leave DISP compliance (or your organisation’s resilience) to chance. The new expectations demand leadership, not just checklists.