Implementing the Essential Eight for a Government Agency
How we helped a government agency implement the Essential Eight strategies to protect their systems and data from cyber threats and meet ACSC requirements.
The Challenge
A state government agency with 2,500 employees across 15 regional offices was mandated to achieve Essential Eight Maturity Level 3 compliance. Their existing security posture was at Level 1, and they needed to:
- Implement all eight mitigation strategies to the required maturity level within 18 months
- Protect sensitive government data and citizen information from sophisticated cyber threats
- Modernize legacy systems and applications while maintaining operational continuity
- Train staff across all locations on new security controls and procedures
- Establish ongoing compliance monitoring and reporting mechanisms
Our Approach
Sky Nexus Australia developed and executed a comprehensive Essential Eight implementation program tailored to the agency's specific requirements:
Phase 1: Maturity Assessment & Gap Analysis
We conducted a thorough assessment against the Essential Eight Maturity Model:
- Current state assessment for each of the eight strategies
- Gap analysis identifying requirements to reach Level 3 maturity
- Risk assessment of current vulnerabilities and threats
- Technology and process inventory across all locations
- Detailed implementation roadmap with prioritized milestones
Phase 2: Essential Eight Implementation
We systematically implemented each strategy to achieve Level 3 maturity:
- Application Control: Deployed whitelisting solution across all endpoints
- Patch Applications: Implemented automated patching for all applications within 48 hours
- Microsoft Office Macros: Configured Group Policy to block untrusted macros
- User Application Hardening: Hardened web browsers and blocked vulnerable plugins
- Restrict Admin Privileges: Implemented privileged access management solution
- Patch Operating Systems: Automated OS patching within 48 hours of release
- Multi-factor Authentication: Deployed MFA for all users and privileged accounts
- Regular Backups: Implemented 3-2-1 backup strategy with offline copies
Phase 3: Training & Continuous Compliance
We established ongoing compliance and training programs:
- Comprehensive security awareness training for all staff
- Specialized training for IT administrators on new security controls
- Automated compliance monitoring and reporting dashboard
- Quarterly maturity assessments to maintain compliance
- Documentation and procedures for ongoing maintenance
The Results
Our systematic Essential Eight implementation delivered comprehensive security improvements:
Successfully achieved Level 3 maturity across all eight strategies
Completed implementation 2 months ahead of the 18-month deadline
Significant decrease in exploitable vulnerabilities across the environment
All 2,500 employees completed security awareness training
Client Testimonial
"Sky Nexus Australia's expertise in the Essential Eight was instrumental in achieving our compliance goals. They not only helped us implement the technical controls but also ensured our staff understood and embraced the changes. The systematic approach and clear communication throughout the project made a complex transformation manageable. We now have a robust security posture that protects our systems and the sensitive data we manage."
Key Takeaways
- Systematic Approach is Essential: Implementing the Essential Eight requires careful planning and phased execution
- Change Management Matters: Staff training and communication are critical for successful adoption
- Automation Enables Compliance: Automated patching and monitoring make maintaining maturity levels achievable
- Continuous Monitoring is Required: Ongoing assessment ensures compliance is maintained over time
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