Essential 8 scorecard

The Essential 8 Scorecard is a powerful tool developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help organisations assess and improve their cybersecurity posture. This scorecard provides a structured approach to implementing the Essential 8 strategies, which are designed to mitigate cyber risks. By using the scorecard, organisations can track their progress, identify areas for improvement, and ensure they are adequately protected against cyber threats.

Understanding the Essential 8

The Essential 8 consists of eight key strategies that form the foundation of a robust cybersecurity framework:

1. Application Whitelisting
2. Patch Applications
3. Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings
4. User Application Hardening
5. Restrict Administrative Privileges
6. Patch Operating Systems
7. Multi-Factor Authentication
8. Regular Backups

Each strategy is designed to address specific vulnerabilities and protect against a range of cyber threats.

Essential 8 Maturity Levels

The Essential 8 Maturity Model outlines four levels of maturity, indicating the extent to which an organization has implemented the Essential 8 strategies:

• Maturity Level 0: Incomplete or inadequate implementation.
• Maturity Level 1: Partially aligned implementation, offering basic protection.
• Maturity Level 2: Mostly aligned implementation, providing robust protection.
• Maturity Level 3: Fully aligned implementation, ensuring comprehensive and proactive defense.

Using the Essential 8 Scorecard

The Essential 8 Scorecard helps organisations evaluate their current cybersecurity maturity and identify steps needed to reach higher maturity levels. Here’s how to use the scorecard effectively:

1. Assess Current Maturity

For each of the Essential 8 strategies, determine your current maturity level based on the following criteria:

Application Whitelisting

• Level 0: No application whitelisting.
• Level 1: Whitelisting for workstations.
• Level 2: Whitelisting extended to servers.
• Level 3: Whitelisting for all systems.

Patch Applications

• Level 0: No patching process.
• Level 1: Patching within 30 days.
• Level 2: Patching within 14 days.
• Level 3: Patching within 48 hours for critical vulnerabilities.

Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings

• Level 0: No restrictions on macros.
• Level 1: Macros disabled by default.
• Level 2: Macros only from trusted locations.
• Level 3: All macros blocked from the internet.

User Application Hardening

• Level 0: No hardening measures.
• Level 1: Disable unnecessary features (e.g., Flash).
• Level 2: Apply security configurations.
• Level 3: Continuous monitoring for configuration drift.

Restrict Administrative Privileges

• Level 0: No restrictions.
• Level 1: Limited admin privileges.
• Level 2: Multi-factor authentication for admins.
• Level 3: Just-in-time access for admin privileges.

Patch Operating Systems

• Level 0: No patching process.
• Level 1: Patching within 30 days.
• Level 2: Patching within 14 days.
• Level 3: Patching within 48 hours for critical vulnerabilities.

Multi-Factor Authentication

• Level 0: No MFA.
• Level 1: MFA for remote access and admins.
• Level 2: MFA for all users.
• Level 3: MFA for all access, including internal systems.

Regular Backups

• Level 0: No regular backups.
• Level 1: Regular backups of critical data.
• Level 2: Periodic testing of backups.
• Level 3: Continuous backups with real-time recovery capabilities.

2. Identify Gaps

Compare your current maturity levels with the desired levels for each strategy. Highlight areas where your organisation falls short and needs improvement.

3. Develop an Improvement Plan

Create a detailed plan to address identified gaps. This plan should include specific actions, timelines, and responsibilities to advance your organisation to higher maturity levels.

4. Implement and Monitor

Execute the improvement plan, ensuring that each action is completed within the specified timeframe. Continuously monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed to stay on track.

5. Reassess and Iterate

Regularly reassess your organisation’s maturity levels using the Essential 8 Scorecard. Update your improvement plan based on the latest assessments and continue to iterate until you reach the desired maturity levels.

Benefits of the Essential 8 Scorecard

Using the Essential 8 Scorecard offers several benefits:

• Clear Assessment: Provides a clear and structured way to assess your current cybersecurity posture.
• Focused Improvement: Helps identify specific areas that need attention, enabling targeted improvements.
• Enhanced Security: Guides your organisation toward achieving higher maturity levels, enhancing overall cybersecurity.
• Proactive Defence: Encourages a proactive approach to cybersecurity, reducing the risk of incidents.

Conclusion

The Essential 8 Scorecard is an invaluable tool for organisations looking to strengthen their cybersecurity defences. By systematically assessing and improving your implementation of the Essential 8 strategies, you can ensure your organisation is well-protected against a wide range of cyber threats. For further assistance in using the Essential 8 Scorecard and advancing your cybersecurity maturity, contact Empire Technologies and speak to one of our experts today.