With cyber security threats increasing in frequency, severity and complexity, organisations are turning to cyber security frameworks for a methodical approach to enhancing their cyber security posture.
One of the most widely used frameworks in Australia is the ASD Essential 8, which provides practical cyber security guidance for organisations of all sizes. Unlike other frameworks such as ISO 27001, which require extensive organisational involvement, the Essential 8 focuses on eight specific controls, such as hardening IT systems, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and backups. This makes it more manageable for IT and security teams, often without requiring significant leadership buy-in.
However, implementing the Essential 8 framework is not without its challenges. Defining the right scope, prioritising mitigation strategies, and managing resource constraints can lead to delays and bottlenecks. In these situations, leveraging an experienced Essential 8 provider can be crucial for success.
In this article, we cover the top five criteria to consider when selecting an ASD Essential 8 service provider.
#1 They have depth and breadth of expertise
The Essential Eight isn’t a one-time activity or a tick-box checklist. It’s an ongoing, risk-based program with four maturity levels (Maturity Level Zero through to Maturity Level Three). A comprehensive partner should offer a holistic suite of services supporting your compliance journey, from assessment to ongoing maintenance. This includes identifying security gaps, assisting with implementation, providing continuous monitoring and aiding in incident response and recovery. This comprehensive approach helps you incrementally achieve higher maturity levels and a stronger security posture.
A comprehensive partner should offer a holistic suite of services supporting your compliance journey.
#2 They have capability to remediate
While niche cyber security companies excel at identifying threats and vulnerabilities, they often lack the necessary IT expertise to comprehensively address and validate fixes of identified security gaps. This can force you to either rely on stretched internal resources or engage another provider for remediation, leading to increased project complexity, cost overruns and delays. Choosing a compliance partner with both cyber expertise and in-house remediation capability streamlines your journey towards compliance by ensuring efficient identification, remediation and validation.
The right provider can streamline your compliance by ensuring efficient identification, remediation and validation.
#3 They offer comprehensive reporting with an executive summary
Look for a company that offers dual-track reporting. This means they provide comprehensive and detailed reports tailored for your IT team that address specific technical aspects and remediation strategies. Additionally, they offer simplified summaries in business language for executives, highlighting key findings and risks. This dual approach ensures stakeholders are informed, from technical specialists to executive decision-makers, fostering a collaborative environment that is supportive of cyber security initiatives.
Executive level reporting fosters a collaborative environment that is supportive of cyber security initiatives.
#4 They offer a tailored approach suited to your organisation
Choose an Essential 8 service provider that tailors their approach to your organisation. This means prioritising a risk-based strategy over a cookie-cutter approach. Look for evidence in their proposal that demonstrates an understanding of your business and its unique challenges. This ensures they are proposing a customised solution that effectively enhances your organisation’s security posture.
Look for evidence in their proposal that demonstrates an understanding of your business and its unique challenges.
#5 They are a good fit
When selecting an Essential 8 provider, prioritise compatibility with your business. Look for providers with a track record serving similar-sized businesses and who offer flexibility. Large consultancies are renowned for low responsiveness and high overheads, so weigh these drawbacks against the benefits of using them. For any provider, speak with references from previous clients to understand their expertise and service quality. This comprehensive approach ensures you find a cost-effective partner who delivers a bespoke solution tailored to your organisation’s specific needs and budget.
By considering these top 5 factors, you’ll find an ASD Essential 8 compliance partner who can streamline your compliance journey and bolster your organisation’s security posture.
Look for providers with a track record serving similar-sized businesses and who offer flexibility.
How Virtuelle can help?
Simplify your journey to ASD Essential 8 compliance with Virtuelle. Our experts will assess your systems and provide actionable recommendations to reduce cyber-attack risks and ensure long-term compliance.
Contact us today to discuss a plan for meeting the Essential 8 requirements.