Essential 8 Safeguarding Your Organisation
In today’s digital landscape, cyber threats are more prevalent and sophisticated than ever. To combat these threats and protect sensitive information, organisations must adopt robust security measures. The Essential 8, a cyber security framework developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), provides a practical guide to enhance an organisation's resilience against cyber incidents. Breachdefend, a leading cyber security solutions provider, integrates the Essential 8 into its strategies to ensure comprehensive protection for its clients. Here’s a closer look at the Essential 8 and how Breachdefend implements these essential strategies.
The Essential 8 framework is a powerful tool for organizations looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture. By adopting these essential strategies, Breachdefend helps its clients build a robust defense against the ever-evolving cyber threats. Through application whitelisting, timely patching, configuration of macro settings, user application hardening, restriction of administrative privileges, operating system patching, multi-factor authentication, and daily backups, Breachdefend ensures comprehensive protection and resilience for your organisation.
1. Application Whitelisting
Application whitelisting controls which applications are allowed to run on your systems. By implementing this measure, Breachdefend ensures that only trusted software can execute, preventing malicious programs from compromising your network. This approach significantly reduces the risk of malware infections and unauthorised software installations.
2. Patch Applications
Regularly updating applications to the latest versions is crucial for maintaining security. Breachdefend prioritises timely patching of applications, addressing known vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cybercriminals. This proactive measure helps to minimize the attack surface and enhance overall system security.
3. Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings
Macros are often used by cyber attackers to deliver malware. Breachdefend configures Microsoft Office macro settings to block macros from the internet and only allow macros from trusted sources. This prevents malicious code embedded in documents from executing and compromising your systems.
4. User Application Hardening
Reducing the attack surface of user applications is essential for cybersecurity. Breachdefend disables or restricts functionalities in applications that are not necessary for business operations, such as Flash and Java. This hardening process minimises potential entry points for attackers.
5. Restrict Administrative Privileges
Administrative privileges are often targeted by attackers to gain control of systems. Breachdefend restricts administrative access to only those who need it and monitors the use of these privileges. By implementing the principle of least privilege, the risk of unauthorised access and potential damage is significantly reduced.
6. Patch Operating Systems
Keeping operating systems up-to-date is critical for security. Breachdefend ensures that all operating systems are regularly patched and updated, addressing vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. This measure is part of a broader strategy to maintain a secure and resilient IT environment.
7. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to systems and data. Breachdefend implements MFA to protect against unauthorised access, even if passwords are compromised. This significantly enhances the security of user accounts and sensitive information.
8. Daily Backups
Regular data backups are crucial for recovery in the event of a cyber incident. Breachdefend performs daily backups of critical data and ensures that these backups are securely stored and tested for integrity. This practice ensures that organisations can quickly restore operations and data following an attack or system failure.
The Essential 8 framework is a powerful tool for organisations looking to enhance their cyber security posture. By adopting these essential strategies, Breachdefend helps its clients build a robust defence against the ever-evolving cyber threats. Through application whitelisting, timely patching, configuration of macro settings, user application hardening, restriction of administrative privileges, operating system patching, multi-factor authentication, and daily backups, Breachdefend ensures comprehensive protection and resilience for your organisation.