The Essential 8 is a cybersecurity framework developed by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), consisting of eight key strategies designed to help organizations mitigate cybersecurity risks.

1. Patch Applications: Regularly update applications to fix vulnerabilities and protect against exploitation. This includes timely application of security patches.

2. Patch Operating Systems: Keep operating systems updated with the latest security patches to safeguard against known vulnerabilities.

3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA to provide an additional layer of security. This requires users to verify their identity through multiple methods before accessing systems.

4. Restrict Administrative Privileges: Limit administrative access to only those individuals who need it. This reduces the risk of unauthorized changes and minimizes the impact of potential breaches.

5. Application Control: Use application whitelisting to ensure that only approved applications can run on systems, preventing unapproved or malicious software from executing.

6. Restrict Microsoft Office Macros: Disable macros in Microsoft Office documents or restrict their use to trusted sources to prevent malware infections from malicious documents.

7. User Application Hardening: Harden user applications by disabling unnecessary features and settings that could be exploited by attackers, reducing the attack surface.

8. Regular Backups: Perform regular backups of critical data and test the restoration process to ensure data can be recovered in case of a breach or data loss.