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.
26 Jun 2020
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.
What Executives Should Know About Cyber Security
This publication discusses high-level topics that executives should know about cyber security within their organisations.
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.
Mitigating Drive-by Downloads
Adversaries are increasingly using drive‐by download techniques to deliver malicious software that compromises computers. This document explains how drive‐by downloads operate and how compromise from these techniques can be mitigated.
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.
Mitigating Java-based Intrusions
Java applications are widely deployed by organisations. As such, exploiting security vulnerabilities in the Java platform is particularly attractive to adversaries seeking unauthorised access to organisations’ networks.
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.
End of Support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
On 14 January 2020, Microsoft ended support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2. As such, organisations no longer receive patches for security vulnerabilities identified in these products. Subsequently, adversaries may use these unpatched security vulnerabilities to target Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 servers.
Securing PowerShell in the Enterprise
This document describes a maturity framework for PowerShell in a way that balances the security and business requirements of organisations. This maturity framework will enable organisations to take incremental steps towards securing PowerShell across their environment.
Introduction to Cross Domain Solutions
This document introduces technical and non-technical audiences to the concept of a Cross Domain Solution (CDS), a type of security capability that is used to connect discrete systems within separate security domains in an assured manner.
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.
Fundamentals of Cross Domain Solutions
This guidance introduces technical and non-technical audiences to cross domain security principles for securely connecting security domains. It explains the purpose of a Cross Domain Solution (CDS) and promotes a data-centric approach to a CDS system implementation based on architectural principles and risk management. This guidance also covers a broad range of fundamental concepts relating to a CDS, which should be accessible to readers who have some familiarity with the field of cyber security. Organisations with complex information sharing requirements are encouraged to refer to this guidance in the planning, analysis, design and implementation of CDS systems.
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.
Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is one of the most effective controls an organisation can implement to prevent an adversary from gaining access to a device or network and accessing sensitive information. When implemented correctly, multi-factor authentication can make it significantly more difficult for an adversary to steal legitimate credentials to facilitate further malicious activities on a network. Due to its effectiveness, multi-factor authentication is one of the Essential Eight from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
Secure Administration
Privileged access allows administrators to perform their duties such as establishing and making changes to key servers, networking devices, user workstations and user accounts. Privileged access or credentials are often seen as the ‘keys to the kingdom’ as they allow the bearers to have access and control over many different assets within a network. This publication provides guidance on how to implement secure administration techniques.
Preparing for and Responding to Cyber Security Incidents
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is responsible for monitoring and responding to cyber threats targeting Australian interests. The ACSC can help organisations respond to cyber security incidents. Reporting cyber security incidents ensures that the ACSC can provide timely assistance.
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.
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.
Restricting Administrative Privileges
This publication provides guidance on restricting the use of administrative privileges. Restricting the use of administrative privileges is one of the eight essential mitigation strategies from the Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents.
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.
Hardening Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus, Office 2019 and Office 2016
Workstations are often targeted by adversaries using malicious websites, emails or removable media in an attempt to extract sensitive information. Hardening applications on workstations is an important part of reducing this risk.
Using Virtual Private Networks
Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections can be an effective means of providing remote access to a network; however, VPN connections can be abused by an adversary to gain access to a network without relying on malware and covert communication channels. This document identifies security controls that should be considered when implementing VPN connections.
Malicious Email Mitigation Strategies
Socially engineered emails containing malicious attachments and embedded links are routinely used in targeted cyber intrusions against organisations. This document has been developed to provide mitigation strategies for the security risks posed by these malicious emails.
Using Remote Desktop Clients
Remote access solutions are increasingly being used to access organisations’ systems. One common method of enabling remote access is to use a remote desktop client. This document provides guidance on security risks associated with the use of remote desktop clients.
22 May 2020
COVID-19 – Remote access to Operational Technology Environments
This cyber security advice is for critical infrastructure providers who are deploying business continuity plans for Operational Technology Environments (OTE)/Industrial Control Systems (ICS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
06 Apr 2020
COVID-19 Protecting Your Small Business
This guide has been developed to help small and micro businesses adapt to working during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will help businesses with simple and actionable advice in order to both identify common and emerging cyber threats and develop resilient business practices to protect themselves.
31 Oct 2019
Quick Wins for your End of Support
Every software product has a lifecycle. Knowing key dates in a program’s lifecycle can help you make informed decisions about the products your small business relies on every day. This guide helps small businesses understand what end of support is, why it is important to be prepared and when to update, upgrade or make other changes.
09 Oct 2019
Step-by-Step Guide – Turning on Automatic Updates (For iMac & MacBook, and iPhone & iPad)
This step-by-step guide shows you how to turn on automatic updates if you use an iMac, MacBook, iPhone or iPad.
Quick Wins for your Portable Devices
Mobile technology is an essential part of modern business. While these devices may be small, the cyber threats when transporting them outside of the office are huge. This guide helps small businesses understand what is a portable device, why it is important to manage their use and how to keep the data on portable devices secure.
Step-by-Step Guide – Turning on Automatic Updates (For Windows 10)
This step-by-step guide shows you how to turn on automatic updates if you use Microsoft Windows 10.
01 Jul 2018
Protecting Industrial Control Systems
Industrial control systems are essential to our daily life. They control the water we drink, the electricity we rely on and the transport that moves us all. It is critical that cyber threats to industrial control systems are understood and mitigated appropriately to ensure essential services continue to provide for everyone.
01 Feb 2017
Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents – Mitigation Details
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has developed prioritised mitigation strategies to help cyber security professionals in all organisations mitigate cyber security incidents caused by various cyber threats. This guidance addresses targeted cyber intrusions (i.e. those executed by advanced persistent threats such as foreign intelligence services), ransomware and external adversaries with destructive intent, malicious insiders, ‘business email compromise’, and industrial control systems.
Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents
