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NONAC02041

Essential Eight Assessment Course

The Essential Eight Assessment Course is an Australian Signals Directorate developed training course that equips individuals with the knowledge to assess an organisation's maturity against the Essential Eight Maturity Model, which outlines eight strategies for mitigating cyber-attacks.

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STUDY LOCATIONS Greater Brisbane
WAYS TO STUDY On campus
NEXT INTAKE Start date: 08 Nov 2024 Duration: 5 weeks View all intakes
WHAT YOU'LL PAY
Full Fee

This is the total course fee. Read more about student loans and payment plans.

$2,080

Course overview

The Essential Eight Assessment Course is an Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)-developed training course that is designed to provide individuals with the understanding of how to perform an assessment of an organisation’s maturity against the Essential Eight Maturity Model. The Essential Eight Maturity Model describes eight strategies that organisations can use to mitigate the effects of a cyber-attack. 

The Essential Eight Assessment Course, which will be delivered by TAFE cyber members for the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) on behalf of ASD, provides the foundational skills and knowledge required to assess an organisation’s implementation of the Essential Eight mitigation strategies. The training course aims to ensure a broad understanding of the Essential Eight Maturity Model across the Government and Industry and consistent methodologies are used in assessing an organisation’s maturity against the model. 

Course outcome:

Certificate of Completion of the ACSC Essential Eight Assessment Course

Ways to study
  • You'll learn face to face with a teacher in a classroom or simulated workplace environment. You may access learning materials through our online learning management system Connect. Learn more

  • demo View comparison chart
CAMPUS STUDY MODE START DATE DURATION WORKLOAD WHAT YOU'LL PAY
South Bank
On Campus
08 Nov 2024
5 weeks
Part time 1 day per week
  • Full fee: $2,080

    This is the total course fee. Read more about student loans and payment plans.

demo

South Bank

On Campus

  • Online Time

    How much of the course will be delivered online. 

    0%
  • On Campus Time
    100%
START DATE

The date the course starts. Apply early as intakes fill up quickly. 

08 Nov 2024
DURATION

The total length of time it takes to complete the course.

5 weeks
Workload

The average amount of time students will need to allocate to study each week.

Part time 1 day per week
WHAT YOU'LL PAY
  • Full fee: $2,080

    This is the total course fee. Read more about student loans and payment plans.

Class format

Some courses include classes at scheduled times while others can be completed in your own time.

Teacher-led, Scheduled
VIRTUAL CLASS

Scheduled online classes using video conferencing software (such as Zoom).

No
ASSESSMENT

The primary location assessments will take place. Some courses also require vocational placement.

On-Campus
TEACHER COMMS

The different ways you can contact your teacher throughout the course.

  • Phone, Email, Face-to-face, Zoom

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Essential Eight Assessment Course (NONAC02041)

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Essential Eight Assessment Course

COURSE CODE: NONAC02041
Payment Options

How can I pay for this course?

No matter what your circumstances, TAFE Queensland has a payment option to suit you. If you are unsure of what’s right for you, get in touch. We’re here to help. 

Payment plan

If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.

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Upfront payment

This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession.

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Entry requirements

The following pre-requisites are to be met for a participant to be accepted into the course: 

  • The participant must have a minimum of a Certificate IV qualification in a technical ICT discipline or greater and a minimum of two years of experience in a technical ICT role
    OR
  • Four years experience in a technical ICT role
    AND
  • The participant must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident

Participants will be vetted to ensure they meet the entry requirements. This includes verification of participants’ identities and immigration status. 

Participants who enrol in the course are further encouraged to ensure that they are familiar with the following technologies before course commencement: 

  • Microsoft Active Directory, PowerShell, and Group Policy 
  • Operation and theory of vulnerability scanners 
  • Basic Networking

Important information

This project closely aligns with the Minister of Home Affairs and Cyber Security priorities, specifically:

  • Increasing whole of nation cyber security efforts to protect Australia and our economy: This course will leverage partnerships with industry and education sector partners in every jurisdiction.
  • Ensuring CI and government systems are resilient and cyber-secure: Essential Eight is a technical cyber security framework that has been adopted by many State governments, and is one of the approved frameworks in the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act.
  • Growing and sustaining a national cyber workforce, focusing on education, skills and training: This training course will become a new Australian industry certification and will form a key part of the Australian cyber security training ecosystem.

The three (3) day face to face Essential Eight Assessment Course covers the Essential Eight Maturity Model including:

  • Maturity and compliance requirements by market Federal and State Government, Critical Infrastructure and Defence Industry supply chain;
  • Planning and scoping and assessment;
  • The ACSC Essential Eight Assessment Process Guide;
  • The ACSC Essential Eight Assessment Report Template;
  • The ACSC Essential Eight Cyber Toolbox (ACVT and E8MVT);
  • Assessment techniques and methods;
  • Technical exercises; and
  • Written exercises.

The training course will consist of the following modules: 

  • Session 1 includes the history of the Essential Eight and its use in current markets.  
  • Session 2 includes preparing for assessments, scoping, and determining the resources and tools needed.  
  • Session 3 includes an overview and demonstration of the main toolsets and product features/functions to use in an assessment.  
  • Session 4 includes preventing the execution of unapproved/malicious programs and installers.  
  • Session 5 includes patching/mitigating computers with ‘extreme risk’ security vulnerabilities.  
  • Session 6 includes patching/mitigating operating systems with ‘extreme risk’ security vulnerabilities.  
  • Session 7 includes configuring Microsoft Office macro settings to block macros from the internet and to allow vetted macros either in ‘trusted locations’ or with a trusted certificate.  
  • Session 8 includes configuring web browsers to block Flash, ads and Java on the internet and disabling unneeded features in Microsoft Office, web browsers and PDF viewers.  
  • Session 9 includes maintaining and restricting administrative privileges to operating systems and applications based on user duties.  
  • Session 10 includes MFA for VPN and other remote access, and for all users when they perform a privileged action or access an important data repository.  
  • Session 11 includes the maintenance of important data, software and configuration settings and a retention schedule.  
  • Session 12 includes the drafting and presentation of the report.  

Participants for this course are required to meet pre-entry requirements and, following successful completion of the course and an assessment, will receive a qualification endorsed by the ACSC on behalf of ASD. 

Pathways

University pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

Learn more about University Pathways

  • James Cook University
  • Southern Cross University
  • University of Canberra
  • Griffith University
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • University of Southern Queensland

How to apply

Direct application

If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online. 

Course disclaimer

All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.