Do you know that Essential Eight is considered among the most effective strategies that strengthen cyber security defenses? This is referred to as the 8 strategies under the essential labeling. The strategies will concentrate further on pro-active measures, reducing vulnerabilities and limiting possible attack vectors. As per these strategies, they proved to be highly effective and foundational in offering a baseline cyber defense.
Essential Eight Number One
This first of the essential eight is about application control. This is like an application whitelisting as a security practice. Organizations can create a list of trusted and approved applications to operate on the systems. Any unapproved or unauthorized applications are going to get blocked.
It works as it allows only trusted and known applications to execute. Thus, organizations can best reduce the chances of unauthorized software and malware operating on the systems. This helps avoid different forms of cyber attacks like the ones insisted by malicious software.
Essential Eight Number Two
This second of the essential eight is about the patch applications and the operating systems. It is about the regular update and patching of both applications plus the operating systems. This is to say, to fix any security flaws and known vulnerabilities.
As cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, it then requires keeping software updated. Organizations close the possible entrance points for attackers.
This is when a patch management process has to be established to identify, test, and apply the patches promptly to operating systems and applications.
Essential Eight Number Three
The third of Essential Eight is about the configuration of Microsoft Office Macro Settings. The configuration seeks to avoid the execution of the document’s malicious macros. The malicious macros that are embedded in the office documents will serve as a usual vector for the malware industry. It will disable macros by default and enable them as needed, reducing this risk.
Essential Eight Number Four
This is the fourth one that is about user application hardening. It restricts web browsers and also email clients, minimizing the attack surface. It also reduces the chances of possible exploitation. It works as it limits the functionality of the web browsers. It also emails clients with some essential features. Thus, organizations would reduce the chances of attackers as to use the applications being an entry point.
Now as for organizations, they could just best adjust the configurations and settings of email clients and web browsers. This will likewise limit some risky features like automatic content execution and scripting.
Essential Eight Number Five
This is all about the restriction of administrative privileges. It limits the administrative access to users requiring it for their job functions. It works to reduce the number of users having administrative privileges. It minimizes the possibility of unauthorized changes to the settings and systems.
Essential Eight Number Six
Similar to patching applications, it’s essential to keep the operating systems updated. This will help in avoiding attackers as to the exploitation of security weaknesses. #6 would work well to regularly update and patch the operating systems of the organization. This is to say to address any known vulnerabilities.
The implementation would require organizations to establish a procedure for testing, identifying, and applying OS patches promptly.
Essential Eight Number Seven
This is mainly focused on the multi-factor authentication or the MFA. This brings an addition of a security layer. This makes it even more challenging for any unauthorized user to gain access. This is also true even if they have the right password. It works to require users to provide various verification forms like a 1-time code and a password. This is true to say in accessing sensitive accounts.Now, organizations must allow MFA to consider critical systems and accounts. This is particularly true for those that contain sensitive data.
Essential Eight Number Eight
This is the eight one that is designed for regular backups. The data backups will offer a recovery method. This is true if the data is compromised or is lost because of other incidents and cyberattacks.
There’s a need to regularly back up the critical data. This will make sure that it will be restored during a loss of data. This is true like in ransomware attacks.
Organizations will now need to establish backup policies like the storage locations, frequency of backups, and the testing of restoration processes, ensuring data integrity.
Truly, there is a challenge when it comes to cyber security. It is becoming more challenging than ever. You would best protect your business or organization if you consider the implementation of Essential Eight. There is no such thing as strategies that can guarantee cyber attack not occurring. The Essential Eight is an excellent way of covering the bases.
The following practices are mentioned and are needed to be followed. This way, you will reduce the likelihood that the organization will be harmed by any cyber security attack. It is now or never that you must implement the Essential Eight.
What’s more, understand that it is designed to protect the internet-connected information technology networks of an organization. The principles behind this can best be applied to operational technology networks and enterprise mobility.
Dating back to the past, even the maturity model of Essential Eight is dependent upon the production of cyber threat intelligence. It also is intended to respond to incidents related to cyber security. It also seeks to conduct penetration testing and assist organizations with Essential Eight implementation.
Once you follow this Essential Eight, you’ll also like the benefits that it brings. It is indeed a tool for policy management and security awareness. Learn to navigate the standards and regulations across the globe. Implement this strategy as cyber security is essential to safeguard privacy, data, finances, reputation, and intellectual property. It also will ensure business compliance and continuity. You will also get confidence and peace of mind as your digital assets are safeguarded across the globe. Cyber security is never a one-size-fits-all solution. But it helps to consider the Essential Eight as part of the evolving process designed to meet your needs!
