The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has announced the ACSC Essential 8 will be retired over the next two years and replaced by a broader, more flexible Essentials framework. Grounded in the ASD’s Information Security Manual (ISM), the new Essentials framework will offer prioritised, threat‑informed mitigations, practical tools and clear implementation guidance. Organisations already using the Essential 8 can expect strong alignment with their existing controls and investments, while new adopters will benefit from established best‑practice guidance.
While the model is evolving, the core controls and security outcomes remain relevant, ensuring organisations’ current investments continue to deliver strong cyber resilience.
See how to reduce the attack surface with discovery, patching and privilege control.





