Essential Eight Cyber Security Framework vs SMB1001, ISO 27001 & RFFR

What Is the Essential Eight Cyber Security Framework?

The Essential Eight (E8) is a set of eight key mitigation strategies created by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) to help organisations protect themselves from cyber threats. It was designed specifically for Australian businesses and is closely tied to the government’s Right Fit for Risk (RFFR) initiative.

The framework focuses on eight practical security controls:

1. Application control

2. Patch applications

3. Configure Microsoft Office macro settings

4. User application hardening

5. Restrict administrative privileges

6. Patch operating systems

7. Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

8. Regular backups

Each organisation can implement these controls at different levels of maturity, progressing toward stronger cyber resilience.

Why Was the Essential Eight Created?

Cyber security is not one-size-fits-all. The ACSC developed the Essential Eight to give Australian businesses a clear, practical baseline for defending against the most common cyber threats. Its purpose is to reduce exposure to attacks and provide a measurable maturity model that aligns with government security requirements.

The framework also ensures businesses can meet government contract obligations, as many agencies require suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the Essential Eight or equivalent standards.

When Should a Business Consider the Essential Eight?

The Essential Eight is an excellent choice for businesses that:

1. Work with government contracts – Many agencies require compliance with the Essential Eight.

2. Need a strong technical foundation – It prioritises practical measures proven to block common attack vectors.

3. Want measurable maturity – The model has four levels (0–3), making it clear where you stand and how to improve.

4. Handle sensitive information – Particularly useful for sectors like healthcare, finance, and education.

5. Plan for growth – Establishes a robust security baseline that scales as the organisation grows.

The Maturity Levels Explained

The Essential Eight defines four maturity levels:

• Level 0 – Significant weaknesses present.

• Level 1 – Basic protection against opportunistic threats.

• Level 2 – Stronger defences with early detection and forensic capability.

• Level 3 – Mature, robust defences suitable for targeted cyber attacks.

This makes the framework flexible and applicable to organisations at different stages of cyber security maturity.

How Essential Eight Compares to SMB1001

SMB1001 Overview

• A five-tiered cyber security certification model (Bronze → Diamond) built specifically for SMBs.

• Covers governance, policies, training, and risk management in addition to technical controls.

• Provides formal certification, with self-attestation at lower levels and external audits at higher levels.
  

Side-by-Side Comparison

The Essential Eight provides a strong technical baseline. SMB1001 expands this into a business-wide maturity framework with formal certification.

How the Essential Eight Compares to ISO 27001

ISO 27001 is one of the most widely recognised international standards for information security management systems (ISMS). It is comprehensive and designed for organisations of all sizes, but can be complex and costly for SMBs.

ISO 27001 Overview

• Focuses on establishing a full ISMS with risk management at its core.

• Requires significant documentation, management involvement, and third-party audits.

• Highly recognised globally, often required in enterprise and government contracts.

• It can take months (or longer) to implement, with higher costs for certification and maintenance.

SMB1001 vs ISO 27001

Think of ISO 27001 as the global gold standard, and Essential Eight is practical and tactical, aligning with the Australian government standards.

How Essential Eight Compares to Right Fit for Risk (RFFR)

Right Fit for Risk (RFFR) is an Australian government initiative developed to ensure that suppliers handling sensitive data meet minimum security requirements.

RFFR Overview

• Australian government initiative ensuring suppliers meet minimum cyber security standards.

• Aligns strongly with Essential Eight controls.

• Required for many government contract suppliers.

SMB1001 vs Right Fit for Risk

The Essential Eight provides the roadmap; RFFR ensures suppliers meet the baseline for government work.

The Tiered Levels in Practice

To make this more tangible, here’s how SMB1001 levels align with business needs (and how they loosely compare to other frameworks):

• Bronze (similar to E8 Level 1) – Focused on basics like backups, antivirus, and MFA. Good for SMBs just starting.

• Gold (similar to E8 Level 2) – Strengthens consistency and monitoring across the business. Ideal for scaling SMBs.

• Diamond (similar intent but not equivalent to ISO 27001 maturity) – Advanced resilience, third-party audit, and recognition. Often required by enterprise clients.

Why the Essential Eight Matters for Business Leaders

For SMBs and enterprises alike, the Essential Eight provides:

• Proven defence against the most common attack methods.

• Alignment with government contracts and supplier requirements.

• Measurable maturity levels to benchmark and improve security posture.

• Cost-effective implementation, focusing on practical, high-impact controls.

Final Thoughts

The Essential Eight Cyber Security Framework is one of the most practical and impactful ways for Australian businesses to strengthen their defences. Created by the Australian Government, it is tightly aligned with the Right Fit for Risk initiative and ensures organisations can meet security expectations in both the public and private sectors.

Small to medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources may find the SMB1001 Framework more tailored, offering a tiered certification model with broader coverage. For enterprises with global operations, ISO 27001 remains the gold standard for information security management. And for suppliers working directly with government agencies, RFFR compliance is often non-negotiable.

The Essential Eight remains the best baseline framework for Australian businesses, and it can be complemented by SMB1001 or ISO 27001, depending on your size, resources, and compliance needs.