A breakdown of the ACSC Essential 8 framework

The Cyber Security Essential 8 is a set of eight mitigation strategies recommended by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help organizations protect against cyber threats. These strategies are designed to address the most common and dangerous cyber threats, and are essential for any organization that wants to reduce its risk of being hacked.

The first strategy in the Cyber Security Essential 8 is application whitelisting. This involves only allowing known, trusted applications to run on a device, and blocking all others. This can prevent malware from running on a device and can help to prevent attacks.
The second strategy is patching applications and appliances. It is essential to keep all software and systems up-to-date in order to fix known vulnerabilities and prevent attackers from exploiting them.

The third strategy fine-tuning Microsoft Office macro settings. By default, Microsoft Office can allow malicious code to run within documents (macros), exposing unsuspecting users to attack.

The fourth strategy is hardening configurations. This involves configuring devices and systems in a way that makes them less vulnerable to attacks. This can include disabling unnecessary services, setting strong passwords, and enabling firewalls.

The fifth strategy is restricting administrative privileges. Only a small number of trusted individuals should have access to administrative accounts, as these accounts can be used to make changes to the system that can open it up to attacks.
The sixth strategy is patching operating systems. Ensuring the latest updates are applied in a strategic manner and obtained from reputable sources is a fundamental risk mitigation strategy

The seventh strategy is implementing two-factor authentication. This involves requiring users to provide two forms of authentication, such as a password and a security token, in order to access the system. This can make it much more difficult for attackers to gain access to the system.
The eighth and final strategy is backing up data. It is essential to regularly back up important data, as this can help to recover from an attack and minimize the damage caused by the attack.

In conclusion, the Cyber Security Essential 8 is a set of eight strategies that can help organizations to protect against cyber threats. By implementing these strategies, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of being hacked and protect their sensitive data.