Implementing Essential 8 | Application Control
ACSC Essential 8 Security Model is a set of security measures developed to protect government systems and data. Essential 8 includes elements such as application control, patching applications and operating systems, privilege management, user account management, system logging and monitoring, malware defence and more. It is an effective security model that can be used by organisations to protect their systems from threats and attacks.
The 8 elements of Essential 8 are:
Application Control/Whitelisting — to control the execution of unauthorised software
Configure Macros — to block untrusted macros
Patch Application — to remediate known security vulnerabilities
Application Hardening — to protect against vulnerable functionality
Restrict Admin Permissions — to limit powerful access to systems
Patch Operating Systems — to remediate known security vulnerabilities
Multi-Factor Authentication — to protect against risk activities
Daily Backups — to maintain the availability of critical data
By implementing the Essential 8 security model, organisations can ensure their systems are secure and protected against threats and attacks. It is an effective way to protect data and systems from malicious actors.
Application control is an essential component of this ACSC Essential 8 security model. It ensures that only approved applications are installed and running on a system, preventing malicious actors from exploiting vulnerable software or taking advantage of out-of-date versions to gain access to sensitive data. It also prevents users from downloading unauthorised applications that may contain malware. Effectively controlling the applications running on a system helps to reduce the risk of cyber security incidents, and can be an effective part of a comprehensive defence-in-depth strategy.
It involves controlling which applications can be used on a particular system, and ensuring that only legitimate, secure applications can run on it. This helps to proactively protect against malicious software, and prevent unauthorised access to sensitive systems and data. Application control also helps to ensure that only approved applications are running on the system, reducing the risk of outdated or vulnerable software being used.
Application control can be implemented in several ways, including whitelisting and blacklisting applications. Whitelisting allows only approved applications to run on the system while blacklisting blocks known malicious and unauthorised software. Additionally, application control can also involve setting up rules for users about which applications they are allowed to use.
The application control component of Essential 8 is designed to ensure that only secure, authorised applications are used to protect the system from unauthorised or malicious software that could compromise its security or functionality. The application control measures also help to minimise any risks posed by vulnerable software that is out of date or unsupported.
By implementing the Essential 8 security model, organisations can ensure their systems are secure and protected against threats and attacks. Application control helps to protect data and systems from malicious actors, making it an important part of any comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
Application control ensures only authorised applications are installed, running and used on a computer or network. It helps organisations to ensure that they are robust and secure by preventing unauthorised applications from being executed, as well as providing visibility into which applications are run on the system. Implementing application control can be difficult due to the variety of devices, operating systems and applications used within an organisation. Application control should be implemented on all devices, including both physical and virtual machines, as a means of ensuring Essential 8 compliance.
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This is Part of our Cyber Security awareness educational campaign. Through this training, you will learn awareness and key principles, and best practices to protect yourself, your organisation, and the public from cyber attackers. You will also be equipped with the knowledge to identify potential threats and take action before any damage can occur.