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You can view all our publications from this page. Use the filters below to filter by audience type, title and summary and the sort options to sort for the most recently updated or published content.
18 Feb 2021
Security Configuration Guide – Samsung Galaxy S10, S20 and Note 20 Devices
The ACSC has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand the risks when deploying Samsung Galaxy S10 and S20 devices.
04 Feb 2021
Security Configuration Guide – Apple iOS 14 Devices
The ACSC has developed this guide to assist Australian’s to understand the risks of deploying iOS 14 and the security requirements that need to be met to allow iOS 14 to handle sensitive or classified data.
Security Configuration Guide – Viasat Mobile Dynamic Defense
The ACSC has developed this guidance to assist organisations to understand the risks of deploying and provide specific configuration requirements for the Viasat Mobile Dynamic Defense (MDD) system to handle sensitive or classified data.
Small Business Cyber Security Guide
This guide has been developed to help small businesses protect themselves from the most common cyber security incidents.
14 Jan 2021
Domain Name System Security for Domain Owners
This publication provides information on Domain Name System (DNS) security for domain owners, as well as mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of misuse of domains and associated resources. Organisations are recommended to implement the mitigation strategies in this publication to improve the security of their DNS infrastructure.
Domain Name System Security for Domain Resolvers
This publication provides information on Domain Name System (DNS) security for recursive resolution servers, as well as mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of DNS resolver subversion or compromise. Organisations should implement the mitigation strategies in this publication to improve the security of their DNS infrastructure.
07 Jan 2021
Security Tips for Online Gaming
There are many things to think about when it comes to the use of personal devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, computers and laptops) or gaming devices (e.g. Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox consoles) for a safe and secure online gaming experience. Following the security tips in this publication can assist you to prevent the compromise of your devices and information, thereby avoiding significant productivity, financial and emotional impacts.
Identifying Cyber Supply Chain Risks
This guidance has been developed to assist organisations in identifying risks associated with their use of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers (i.e. businesses that constitute their cyber supply chain).
Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management
All organisations should consider cyber supply chain risk management. If a supplier, manufacturer, distributor or retailer (i.e. businesses that constitute a cyber supply chain) are involved in products or services used by an organisation, there will be a cyber supply chain risk originating from those businesses. Likewise, an organisation will transfer any cyber supply chain risk they hold to their customers.
06 Jan 2021
Hardening Linux Workstations and Servers
This document has been developed to assist organisations understand how to harden Linux workstations and servers, including by applying the Essential Eight from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
15 Dec 2020
Cyber Security Research Report
The ACSC commissioned exploratory research to better understand audience awareness of cyber security threats and practices.
03 Dec 2020
Implementing Certificates, TLS, HTTPS and Opportunistic TLS
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a widely used encryption protocol which enables parties to communicate securely over the internet. Through the use of certificates and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), parties can identify each other through a trusted intermediary and establish encrypted tunnels for the secure transfer of information.
How to Combat Fake Emails
Organisations can reduce the likelihood of their domains being used to support fake emails by implementing Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC) records in their Domain Name System (DNS) configuration. Using DMARC with DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) to sign emails provides further safety against fake emails. Likewise, organisations can better protect their users against fake emails by ensuring their email systems use and apply SPF, DKIM and DMARC policies on inbound email.
01 Dec 2020
Creating Strong Passphrases
Multi-factor authentication (a combination of something that you know, something that you have or something that you are) is one of the most effective ways to protect against unauthorised access to valuable information and accounts. However, in cases where multi-factor authentication is not available, a strong passphrase can often be the only barrier between adversaries and your valuable information and accounts. Passphrases are most effective when they are long, complex, unpredictable and unique.
24 Nov 2020
Quick Response Codes in a COVID-19 Environment
Quick Response (QR) codes have increased in popularity in the COVID-19 environment, aiding contact tracing and business check-in efforts. This guide provides information for individuals and businesses to help protect against cyber threats when using QR codes.
19 Nov 2020
Marketing and Filtering Email Service Providers
This publication provides high level guidance on how to use email service providers (ESPs) in particular deployment scenarios. The considerations and controls described in that publication also apply to ESPs sending email on your behalf.
17 Nov 2020
End of Support for Microsoft Windows 10
Under Microsoft’s current servicing model, support for Microsoft Windows 10 will end between 18 to 30 months after release depending on the version and edition being used. At such a time, organisations will no longer receive patches for security vulnerabilities identified in these products. Subsequently, adversaries may use these unpatched security vulnerabilities to target workstations running unsupported versions of Microsoft Windows 10.
23 Oct 2020
Protecting Against Business Email Compromise
Business email compromise is when criminals use email to abuse trust in business processes to scam organisations out of money or goods. Criminals can impersonate business representatives using similar names, domains and/or fraudulent logos as a legitimate organisation or by using compromised email accounts and pretending to be a trusted co-worker.
19 Oct 2020
Defending Against the Malicious Use of the Tor Network
Blocking traffic from the Tor network will prevent adversaries from using the Tor network to easily conduct anonymous reconnaissance and exploitation of systems and typically has minimal, if any, impact on legitimate users. This publication provides guidance on the prevention and detection of traffic from the Tor network.
15 Oct 2020
Patching During Change Freezes
This document has been developed to assist organisations in assessing and applying patches during change freezes.
02 Oct 2020
Ransomware in Australia
The Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD) Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has observed an increase in the number of ransomware incidents affecting Australian organisations and individuals.
17 Sep 2020
IoT Code of Practice: Guidance for Manufacturers
Internet of Things (IoT) devices need to have effective cyber security provisions to defend against potential threats.
14 Sep 2020
Security Tips for Social Media and Social Networking Apps
Social media, and social networking or messaging apps, can pose a number of security and privacy risks to both organisations and individuals when used in an inappropriate or unsafe manner.
10 Sep 2020
ASD Cyber Skills Framework
The ASD Cyber Skills Framework defines the roles, capabilities and skills that are essential to ASD’s cyber missions. The ASD Cyber Skills Framework enables targeted recruitment of cyber specialists, provides a development pathway for current and future cyber staff, and aligns skills, knowledge and attributes with national and international industry standards.
27 Jul 2020
Cloud Computing Security Considerations
Cloud computing offers potential benefits including cost savings and improved business outcomes for organisations. However, there are a variety of information security risks that need to be carefully considered. Risks will vary depending on the sensitivity of the data to be stored or processed, and how the chosen cloud vendor (also referred to as a cloud service provider) has implemented their specific cloud services.
Cloud Assessment and Authorisation – Frequently Asked Questions
This publication provides answers relating to frequently asked questions on the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)’s new cloud security guidance, future support, government self-assessment and cloud security assessment reports.
Anatomy of a Cloud Assessment and Authorisation
The Anatomy of a Cloud Assessment and Authorisation is co-designed with industry to support the secure adoption of cloud services across government and industry.
Cloud Security Assessment Report Template
The Cloud Security Assessment Report Template is used to assess a cloud service provider (CSP) and its cloud services, improving the consistency of the Cloud Security Assessment Reports.
Cloud Computing Security for Cloud Service Providers
This document is designed to assist assessors validating the security posture of a cloud service in order to provide organisations with independent assurance of security claims made by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs). This document can also assist CSPs to offer secure cloud services.
Cloud Security Controls Matrix
The Cloud Security Controls Matrix (CSCM) provides additional context to the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM) security controls for cloud computing to assist security assessments.
Cloud Computing Security for Tenants
This document is designed to assist an organisation’s cyber security team, cloud architects and business representatives to jointly perform a risk assessment and use cloud services securely.
10 Jul 2020
Security Tips for Personal Devices
There are a lot of things to think about when it comes to the use of personal devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, computers and laptops). For example, compromises of personal devices and the information they store can have significant productivity, financial and emotional impacts. This document has been written to provide security tips to secure personal devices and protect your information.
01 Jul 2020
Quick Wins for your Website
Small business account for over 95% of all businesses in Australia and 72% of them have a website. However, in a world in which websites are increasingly being targeted by cyber criminals, only 36% check for updates every week. For those small businesses with a website, or that are considering one, these three quick wins will help you protect your money, data and reputation.
26 Jun 2020
Travelling Overseas with Electronic Devices
This publication provides guidance on strategies that individuals can take to secure the use of electronic devices when travelling overseas.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Machinery of Government Changes
This publication provides guidance on strategies that organisations can apply during mergers, acquisitions and Machinery of Government changes.
Risk Management of Enterprise Mobility Including Bring Your Own Device
This document has been developed to provide senior business representatives with a list of enterprise mobility considerations. These include business cases, regulatory obligations and legislation, available budget and personnel resources, and risk tolerance. Additionally, risk management controls are provided for cyber security practitioners.
Windows Event Logging and Forwarding
A common theme identified by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) while performing investigations is that organisations have insufficient visibility of activity occurring on their workstations and servers. Good visibility of what is happening in an organisation’s environment is essential for conducting an effective investigation. It also aids incident response efforts by providing critical insights into the events relating to a cyber security incident and reduces the overall cost of responding to them.
Hardening Microsoft Windows 8.1 Workstations
Workstations are often targeted by an adversary using malicious websites, emails or removable media in an attempt to extract sensitive information. Hardening workstations is an important part of reducing this risk. This document provides recommendations on hardening workstations using Enterprise editions of Microsoft Windows 8.1. Before implementing recommendations in this document, thorough testing should be undertaken to ensure the potential for unintended negative impacts on business processes is reduced as much as possible.
Essential Eight Explained
The Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents is a prioritised list of mitigation strategies to assist organisations in protecting their systems against a range of adversaries. The mitigation strategies can be customised based on each organisation’s risk profile and the adversaries they are most concerned about.
Essential Eight Maturity Model
The Essential Eight Maturity Model provides advice on how to implement the Essential Eight in a phased approach. It also assists organisations in self-assessing the maturity of their implementation.
Web Conferencing Security
Web conferencing solutions (also commonly referred to as online collaboration tools) often provide audio/video conferencing, real-time chat, desktop sharing and file transfer capabilities. As we increasingly use web conferencing to keep in touch while working from home, it is important to ensure that this is done securely without introducing unnecessary privacy, security and legal risks. This document provides guidance on both how to select a web conferencing solution and how to use it securely.
Implementing Application Control
Application control is one of the most effective mitigation strategies in ensuring the security of systems. As such, application control forms part of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents. This document provides guidance on what application control is, what application control is not, and how to implement application control.
Questions to ask Managed Service Providers
This document provides simple yet practical questions to ask managed service providers regarding the cyber security of their systems and the services they provide.
Microsoft Office Macro Security
Microsoft Office applications can execute macros to automate routine tasks. However, macros can contain malicious code resulting in unauthorised access to sensitive information as part of a targeted cyber intrusion. This document has been developed to discuss approaches that can be applied by organisations to secure systems against malicious macros while balancing both their business and security requirements.
Preparing for and Responding to Denial-of-Service Attacks
Although organisations cannot avoid being targeted by denial-of-service attacks, there are a number of measures that organisations can implement to prepare for and potentially reduce the impact if targeted. Preparing for denial-of-service attacks before they occur is by far the best strategy, it is very difficult to respond once they begin and efforts at this stage are unlikely to be effective.
End of Support for Microsoft Windows 7
On 14 January 2020, Microsoft ended support for Microsoft Windows 7. As such, organisations no longer receive patches for security vulnerabilities identified in this product. Subsequently, adversaries may use these unpatched security vulnerabilities to target Microsoft Windows 7 workstations.
Detecting Socially Engineered Messages
Socially engineered messages present a significant threat to individuals and organisations due to their ability to assist an adversary with compromising accounts, devices, systems or sensitive information. This document offers guidance on identifying socially engineered messages delivered by email, SMS, instant messaging or other direct messaging services offered by social media applications.
Industrial Control Systems Remote Access Protocol
External parties may need to connect remotely to critical infrastructure control networks. This is to allow manufacturers of equipment the ability to maintain the equipment when a fault is experienced that cannot be fixed in the required timeframe. Such access to external parties will only occur in extraordinary circumstances, and will only be given at critical times where access is required to maintain the quality of everyday life in Australia.
Protecting Web Applications and Users
This document provides advice for web developers and security professionals on how they can protect their existing web applications by implementing low cost and effective security controls which do not require changes to a web application’s code. These security controls when applied to new web applications in development, whether in the application’s code or server configuration, form part of the defence-in-depth strategy.
An Examination of the Redaction Functionality of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2017
This document provides guidance on the efficacy of redaction facilities within Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2017 and is intended for information technology and information security professionals within organisations looking to redact sensitive or personal information from PDF documents before releasing them into the public domain or to other third parties.
