Security | March 8, 2021
A GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL EIGHT MATURITY LEVELS
The Essential Eight Maturity Model offers a strategic framework to assess and enhance an organization’s cybersecurity posture.
Let’s explore the maturity levels and understand how collaborating with a security consultant can help.
Essential Eight Maturity Levels:
1. Ad Hoc (Level 1):
At this stage, cybersecurity efforts are sporadic, and awareness is limited. Organizations at Level 1 face a high risk of falling victim to common cyber threats due to the lack of consistent strategies.
2. Developing (Level 2):
Here, organizations make initial efforts to implement Essential Eight strategies, but consistency is lacking. The risk exposure decreases gradually, but vulnerabilities remain.
3. Defined (Level 3):
Level 3 signifies a more formalized approach with clear policies and procedures for Essential Eight implementation. Risk exposure decreases as resilience against common cyber threats improves.
4. Managed (Level 4):
Organizations at Level 4 proactively manage Essential Eight strategies, incorporating continuous monitoring and response capabilities. This level offers a high level of protection against a broad range of cyber threats.
5. Optimizing (Level 5):
At the pinnacle, Level 5 involves continuous improvement, optimization, and adaptation of Essential Eight strategies based on emerging threats. Organizations at this level are highly resilient and capable of adapting to evolving cyber threats.
Working with a Cyber Security Team
Navigating cyber security and progressing through Essential Eight maturity levels can be daunting process.
To implement it effectively, we recommend a Cyber Risk Assessment to identify and prioritize areas of the business that are most at risk. This avoids unnecessary spend and an easier path to developing an effective plan to achieve the desired Essential Eight maturity levels.
This partnership ensures your organization evolves to the highest level of cybersecurity resilience, staying proactive in the face of evolving digital threats.