Getting Started

What you’ll need

• A valid email address
• Your Australian Business Number (ABN) and/or Australian Company Number (ACN)
• Your business address

Steps

1. Go to the CyberSmart360 website and click “Start Your Free 14-Day Trial” on any page.
2. Complete the checkout form. Enter your name, email address, and billing details. Your card will not be charged during the 14-day trial period.
3. Create your password. Use a strong password with at least 12 characters.
4. Set up your organisation. You’ll be redirected to the organisation setup page.
5. Land on your dashboard. From here, you can start your first assessment.

After creating your account, set up your organisation profile. This information tailors your assessments and generates accurate reports.

Required Fields

1. Business Name — As it appears on your ABN or ACN registration.
2. ABN and/or ACN — Enter at least one. ABN is 11 digits, ACN is 9 digits. Checksum validated automatically.
3. Industry — Select from dropdown. Determines assessment language. If none fit, select “General SME.”
4. Business Address — Start typing and select from autocomplete (Australian addresses only).
5. Staff Count — Approximate number of employees.
6. Contact Phone and Email — Optional but recommended.

The ACSC Essential Eight framework uses three maturity levels to measure how well an organisation implements cybersecurity controls.

Maturity Level 1 (ML1) — Start Here

The baseline. Focuses on fundamental security controls. Best for: Businesses new to cybersecurity compliance.

Maturity Level 2 (ML2) — Building on the Basics

Adds more rigorous requirements on top of ML1. Best for: Businesses that have achieved ML1 and want to strengthen their posture.

Maturity Level 3 (ML3) — Comprehensive Protection

The most stringent controls including centralised logging and automated patching. Best for: Government contractors or businesses handling sensitive data.

Your first Essential Eight assessment typically takes 30–60 minutes. You don’t need to complete it in one sitting — progress saves automatically.

Before You Begin

It helps to have a general understanding of:

• How your business manages software updates
• Whether your team uses multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Your current backup practices
• Whether you restrict which applications staff can install
• How you manage admin access to computers and systems

Steps

1. From your Dashboard, click “Start New Assessment.”
2. Choose your maturity level. We recommend ML1 for your first assessment.
3. Work through the 8 steps. Each covers one Essential Eight domain.
4. Save your progress. Auto-saves as you work.
5. Review and submit. Click “Submit Assessment for Analysis.”
6. Wait for results. AI analysis takes a few minutes. You’ll get an email when ready.

Once your assessment has been analysed, you’ll find your results on the Assessment View page.

Compliance Score

Your overall compliance percentage (0–100%). Most businesses start between 20–50% — don’t be discouraged.

AI Analysis Summary

• Strengths — What you’re already doing well.
• Critical Gaps — Most important areas to address, with business impact.
• Quick Wins — Easy improvements with immediate positive impact.
• Professional Help Needed — Controls requiring IT expertise.

What To Do Next

1. Review your Remediation Plan
2. Download a PDF Report
3. Start on your quick wins