The ACSC Essential 8 is a maturity model, not a checklist — and for endpoint teams, a few mitigation strategies deliver disproportionate risk reduction early.
Start with patching and application control
Patch applications and operating systems, and control which applications can run. These two strategies address a huge share of real-world endpoint compromise. Tools like Airlock Digital or AppLocker make application control achievable at scale.
Make compliance measurable
Monthly patch-compliance reporting turns ‘we think we’re patched’ into evidence. Intune compliance policies and SCCM ADRs both give you the data — use it in governance forums, not just dashboards.
Layer identity and admin hardening
Multi-factor authentication, restricting administrative privileges, and tools like LAPS for local admin passwords close the gaps attackers rely on after an initial foothold.
Maturity is a journey. Pick the strategies that reduce the most risk for your environment first, prove the controls with reporting, and uplift steadily rather than trying to do everything at once.
