How to Measure Your Cyber Security Using the Essential 8 Maturity Model
If you’ve ever tried to figure out how secure your business really is, you’ll know it’s not always straightforward. Firewalls, antivirus, backups, MFA… it’s a lot to keep track of. That’s where the Essential 8 cyber security framework comes in. Developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), it’s a practical and effective way to assess and improve your cyber posture.
But how do you measure your progress? That’s where the Essential 8 Maturity Model steps in. It gives businesses a clear way to assess how well they’re doing with each of the eight strategies. Let’s unpack this model and how you can use it to strengthen your cyber defences.
A Quick Refresher: What Is the Essential 8?
The Essential 8 includes eight key strategies that protect against common cyber threats. They are:
- Application control
- Patch applications
- Configure Microsoft Office macro settings
- User application hardening
- Restrict administrative privileges
- Patch operating systems
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Regular backups
Each of these strategies helps protect your business from ransomware, phishing, and other cyber nasties.
Understanding the Maturity Levels
The Maturity Model breaks each control into four levels:
- Maturity Level 0: No or minimal implementation – high risk of compromise.
- Maturity Level 1: Basic protections against common threats.
- Maturity Level 2: More robust defences against more sophisticated attacks.
- Maturity Level 3: Advanced protections suitable for high-risk targets.
Think of it like upgrading your home security. Level 0 is leaving the front door wide open. By Level 3, you’ve got locks, cameras, motion sensors – the lot.
How to Measure Your Current Maturity
Each Essential 8 mitigation strategy has its own criteria for what counts at each level. To measure your maturity:
- Start with a cyber security risk assessment to identify gaps.
- Match your current practices against the ACSC’s Essential 8 Maturity Model.
- Record your maturity level for each of the eight areas.
At Gray Area Consulting, we often help businesses walk through this process. One client, a mid-sized law firm, thought they were doing alright because they had antivirus and strong passwords. But after a quick audit, we found they were sitting at Level 0 for application control and only at Level 1 for patching. They were shocked – and ready to take action.
Setting a Target Maturity Level
Not every business needs to hit Level 3 across the board. Your target maturity level should match your risk profile. For example:
- A small business with minimal sensitive data might aim for Level 1 or 2.
- A financial services firm or healthcare provider (handling lots of personal info) should aim for Level 3.
It’s about balancing protection with practicality. You don’t need a fortress if a strong lock will do the job – but you do need to know where the weak spots are.
Practical Tips to Improve Your Maturity
- Application Control: Control which programs can run on your systems. Start by blocking unapproved software.
- Patching: Create a routine to patch both applications and operating systems within 48 hours of release.
- Backups: Make sure your backups are daily and tested regularly – otherwise, they’re just fancy copies.
- MFA: If you haven’t already, roll out multi-factor authentication across all your accounts – especially for admin access.
And don’t forget your people. The best technology won’t help if staff are clicking dodgy links. Have a look at our guide to turning cyber awareness into real behaviour change.
Do You Need Help Assessing Your Maturity?
If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. Many businesses struggle to know where to begin. That’s why we offer cybersecurity assessments tailored to the Essential 8 framework. We’ll help you identify your current level and develop a plan to reach your target.
Measuring your cyber security maturity isn’t about ticking boxes – it’s about protecting your team, your clients, and your reputation. A little effort now can save a lot of pain later.
Need a hand getting started? Get in touch with the team at Gray Area Consulting. We’re here to help you move from guesswork to real control over your cyber risks.
