Best Essential Eight Compliance Software for Startups
The best Essential Eight compliance software for startups should do more than display a compliance score. It should help founders understand their current maturity, identify control gaps, organise evidence, coordinate remediation, and maintain the programme without requiring a full-time compliance hire.
For Australian and APAC startups, Folksoft offers a compliance co-founder model with dedicated GRC support, autonomous remediation for supported findings, and hands-on compliance guidance. However, Essential Eight is not currently listed as a native Folksoft framework. The right choice depends on whether you need Essential Eight-specific assessment and tracking, broader multi-framework compliance support, or a combination of specialist software and expert services.
What Is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight is a set of cybersecurity mitigation strategies developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and published through the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
It consists of eight mitigation strategies designed to make it harder for attackers to compromise internet-connected IT environments.
The eight strategies are:
- Application control
- Patch applications
- Configure Microsoft Office macro settings
- User application hardening
- Restrict administrative privileges
- Patch operating systems
- Multi-factor authentication
- Regular backups
For startups, Essential Eight should not be treated as simply another checklist to upload into a GRC system.
The organisation still needs to implement the technical controls, maintain them, manage exceptions, collect evidence, and progressively improve its maturity.
How Essential Eight Maturity Levels Work
The Essential Eight uses four maturity levels: Maturity Level 0, Maturity Level 1, Maturity Level 2, and Maturity Level 3.
The maturity model provides a structured way to assess how consistently and effectively an organisation has implemented the eight mitigation strategies.
Maturity Level 0
ML0 indicates that an organisation does not yet meet the requirements for Maturity Level 1. It is useful as a baseline for identifying gaps, rather than as a target maturity level.
A startup should understand:
- Which systems and users are in scope
- Which Essential Eight controls are already implemented
- Where gaps exist
- Who owns each control
- What evidence is available
- Which maturity level the organisation needs to target
Maturity Level 1
ML1 represents the baseline level of implementation for the Essential Eight mitigation strategies.
For a startup, this can involve implementing foundational protections around patching, application control, administrative privileges, MFA, backups, and other areas.
Maturity Level 2
ML2 introduces more stringent requirements than ML1, strengthening protection against more capable adversaries through more consistent control implementation.
Maturity Level 3
ML3 is the highest maturity level. It is intended to provide stronger protection against highly capable adversaries.
Not every startup needs to begin at ML3.
The appropriate target depends on the organisation's risk, customers, contracts, regulatory environment, and security requirements.
The maturity model assesses each of the eight mitigation strategies. Organisations should consider the required maturity level for each strategy and work towards a consistent target across the environment.
The Eight Essential Eight Strategies
1. Application Control
Application control limits which applications can execute within an environment.
For startups, this helps reduce the risk of unauthorised or malicious software running on company systems.
2. Patch Applications
Applications need to be patched regularly to address known security vulnerabilities.
A startup should have a repeatable process for identifying vulnerable software, prioritising updates, and confirming that patches have been applied.
3. Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings
Malicious Office macros can be used as an initial attack mechanism.
The strategy includes requirements for managing and restricting macros in Microsoft Office applications.
4. User Application Hardening
User application hardening reduces the attack surface of applications commonly used by employees.
This includes applying security configurations that reduce exposure to common browser and document-based attacks.
5. Restrict Administrative Privileges
Administrative privileges should be limited to users who genuinely require them.
Startups should maintain appropriate controls around privileged accounts and prevent ordinary users from having unnecessary administrative access.
6. Patch Operating Systems
Operating systems must be maintained and patched against known vulnerabilities.
This requires more than installing updates occasionally. Startups need an ongoing process for identifying, prioritising, applying, and verifying operating system patches.
7. Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA adds another layer of protection beyond passwords.
For startups using cloud infrastructure, SaaS applications, developer tools, and remote access, MFA is an important part of identity security.
8. Regular Backups
Regular backups help organisations recover from incidents such as ransomware, accidental deletion, or system failure.
Backups should be appropriately protected and tested rather than simply created and forgotten.
What Should Essential Eight Compliance Software Do?
The right software depends on what the startup expects it to accomplish.
At a minimum, founders should look at five areas.
1. Assessment
The software should help identify the organisation's current state and highlight gaps against applicable requirements.
2. Control Mapping
The organisation should be able to understand which controls apply, what evidence is required, and how requirements connect to the broader security programme.
3. Remediation
Finding a gap is only the beginning.
A tool may identify a missing control. But someone still needs to fix the finding.
This is one of the most important considerations for startups with small engineering, security, or compliance teams.
4. Evidence
Evidence should be collected, reviewed, and organised so that the organisation can demonstrate how controls are implemented and maintained.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
Essential Eight implementation is not a one-time activity. Controls must remain effective as employees, systems, applications, cloud environments, and vendors change.
Folksoft and Essential Eight Compliance
Folksoft is positioned as the Compliance Co-Founder for bootstrapped to Series A SaaS startups.
Its current supported framework coverage includes:
- SOC 2
- ISO 27001
- HIPAA
- GDPR
- NIST
- CIS Controls
Essential Eight is not currently listed as a native Folksoft framework.
That distinction matters.
If a startup specifically needs native Essential Eight maturity assessment and tracking, it should confirm the required scope and mapping directly with Folksoft before engagement.
Where Folksoft can fit is the broader compliance workload around assessment, evidence collection, remediation, audit preparation, and ongoing compliance management.
Folksoft combines a dedicated GRC analyst with autonomous compliance agents. This model is designed to help startups move beyond managing compliance tasks in a tool and get practical support with running their broader compliance programme.
For an Australian SaaS company that needs Essential Eight alongside SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, or another framework, the important question is therefore:
Who is actually going to own the compliance programme?
Essential Eight Compliance Software: Folksoft vs Alternatives
There is no single product category that covers every Australian startup's needs.
Some providers focus specifically on Essential Eight. Others provide broader cybersecurity compliance management. Some combine software with professional services.
The following comparison looks at how different approaches support the Essential Eight compliance journey.
Folksoft
Compliance Support: Compliance co-founder model with a dedicated GRC analyst and autonomous compliance agents to help manage assessments, evidence, remediation, and ongoing compliance activities.
Essential Eight Coverage: Essential Eight is not currently listed as a native Folksoft framework. Startups with a specific Essential Eight requirement should confirm the required maturity mapping and assessment scope with Folksoft.
Maturity-Level Support: Broader control and evidence support, with Essential Eight-specific maturity mapping to be confirmed based on the engagement scope.
Remediation: Autonomous remediation for supported findings; Essential Eight-specific remediation coverage should be confirmed.
Human Compliance Support: A dedicated GRC analyst provides hands-on compliance guidance.
Broader Frameworks: SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, GDPR, NIST, and CIS Controls.
Shield8
Compliance Support: Focused on Essential Eight assessment, monitoring, and compliance requirements.
Essential Eight Coverage: Designed specifically around the Essential Eight controls.
Maturity-Level Support: Supports Essential Eight maturity tracking across the compliance journey.
Remediation: Automated remediation for supported issues; confirm which Essential Eight controls and configurations are covered.
Human Compliance Support: Confirm the availability and scope of human support with the provider.
Broader Frameworks: Primarily focused on Essential Eight.
CyberUp
Compliance Support: Combines Essential Eight compliance support with broader cybersecurity and professional services.
Essential Eight Coverage: Supports Essential Eight assessment and implementation requirements.
Maturity-Level Support: Provides maturity and compliance tracking for Essential Eight requirements.
Remediation: Service-supported remediation with professional cybersecurity assistance.
Human Compliance Support: Confirm the qualifications and scope of the assigned cybersecurity specialists.
Broader Frameworks: NIST, ISO 27001, CIS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and other frameworks.
Essential Eight Specialist / Consultancy
Compliance Support: Specialist Essential Eight assessment, implementation, and compliance services.
Essential Eight Coverage: Focused specifically on Essential Eight requirements and maturity levels.
Maturity-Level Support: Provides gap assessment and maturity uplift support.
Remediation: Human-led remediation and implementation.
Human Compliance Support: High level of direct specialist involvement.
Broader Frameworks: Depends on the provider and scope of services.
General GRC Software
Compliance Support: Provides general compliance assessment, evidence management, and workflow capabilities.
Essential Eight Coverage: Essential Eight support depends on the framework mapping available within the software.
Maturity-Level Support: Depends on the provider's Essential Eight mapping and assessment capabilities.
Remediation: Usually workflow- or task-based rather than hands-on remediation.
Human Compliance Support: Varies by provider.
Broader Frameworks: Usually supports multiple compliance frameworks, depending on the product.
Mapping Software to Essential Eight Maturity Levels
Software can play different roles at each stage of the Essential Eight maturity journey.
ML0 — Assess and Scope
At ML0, the priority is to understand the current state and identify what must change to meet the target maturity level.
Software and compliance support can help startups:
- Define scope
- Identify systems and users
- Assess current controls
- Identify gaps
- Establish ownership
- Build an initial roadmap
- Organise baseline evidence
ML1 — Establish Baseline Controls
At ML1, startups need to move from assessment to implementing the baseline requirements.
Useful capabilities include:
- Control implementation tracking
- Configuration monitoring
- Evidence collection
- Policy management
- Basic remediation workflows
- Ongoing monitoring
ML2 — Strengthen Controls
At ML2, organisations need to implement stronger and more consistent protections.
Startups may need more advanced monitoring around:
- Access management
- MFA
- Patch management
- Administrative privileges
- Application controls
- Backups
- Exceptions
- Evidence
ML3 — Advanced Maturity
ML3 requires a mature, consistently applied, and repeatable security process.
This can involve:
- Continuous control monitoring
- Advanced remediation
- Detailed evidence
- Exception management
- Repeatable testing
- Clear control ownership
- Continuous improvement
The software itself does not create maturity. The controls still need to be implemented and maintained.
How to Choose Essential Eight Software for a Startup
1. Start With the Business Requirement
First determine why the startup needs Essential Eight.
The requirement may come from:
- An enterprise customer
- A government contract
- An insurer
- A partner
- A procurement questionnaire
- Internal security requirements
- A broader cybersecurity programme
The reason affects the maturity level and assessment requirements.
2. Identify the Target Maturity Level
Do not assume ML3 is automatically required.
Determine the maturity level expected by customers, contracts, government requirements, or the organisation's risk profile.
3. Separate Monitoring From Remediation
Ask a simple question:
Who fixes the finding?
A compliance tool can identify a missing control. The startup still needs someone to implement the fix.
4. Ask Who Owns the Programme
This is especially important for early-stage companies.
If there is no compliance manager, CISO, or dedicated security engineer, the compliance workload can quickly become a founder responsibility.
5. Check Framework Overlap
An Australian SaaS startup may eventually need more than Essential Eight.
Check whether the provider can support requirements such as:
- SOC 2
- ISO 27001
- GDPR
- HIPAA
- NIST
- CIS Controls
6. Confirm Australian Assessment Requirements
Essential Eight implementation and assessment expectations can vary according to the organisation's environment and the applicable government, regulatory, or contractual requirements.
Confirm what the customer, regulator, or contracting organisation actually requires before choosing a provider.
Why the Compliance Co-Founder Model Matters
For a startup, compliance can become a long list of responsibilities:
- Understanding frameworks
- Interpreting requirements
- Creating policies
- Configuring controls
- Collecting evidence
- Fixing gaps
- Managing access
- Preparing for audits
- Answering security questionnaires
- Maintaining compliance over time
Traditional compliance software can help organise these activities.
But organisation is different from ownership.
Folksoft's compliance co-founder model combines autonomous compliance agents with a dedicated GRC analyst to help manage the programme.
The goal is to help startups manage compliance without having to build a large internal compliance team.
For startups that need SOC 2, Folksoft also supports a direct independent audit process with an independent CPA firm experienced in SOC 2 examinations.
The distinction is simple:
Traditional compliance software: You manage the compliance programme through the software.
Compliance co-founder model: Automation and a dedicated GRC professional work together to help manage the compliance programme.
Essential Eight for SaaS Startups
Australian SaaS startups can have complex environments from the beginning.
A company may have:
- Australian employees
- AWS or Azure infrastructure
- US customers
- European customers
- APAC contractors
- Multiple SaaS applications
- Enterprise procurement requirements
Essential Eight can therefore become one part of a wider security and compliance programme.
For example, a SaaS startup running its application on AWS or Azure may need to manage privileged access to cloud environments, secure developer accounts, patch operating systems, and protect its code repositories and deployment pipelines. These activities can also support relevant SOC 2 or ISO 27001 requirements.
Startups should identify where evidence can be reused, such as access reviews, patch records, and security policies. However, they must still assess each framework's specific requirements rather than assuming that one control automatically satisfies another.
Essential Eight for HealthTech Startups
HealthTech startups may face additional compliance expectations around sensitive information, privacy, security questionnaires, and customer procurement.
A startup may need to consider Essential Eight alongside:
- HIPAA
- SOC 2
- ISO 27001
- GDPR
- Customer-specific security requirements
For example, a HealthTech company handling patient information may need to manage access to electronic health records, secure integrations with healthcare providers, restrict privileged access to systems containing sensitive data, and maintain appropriate backup and recovery procedures.
These activities may support parts of its HIPAA, SOC 2, or ISO 27001 programme. However, the company must separately address healthcare-specific privacy, data protection, and security requirements. Evidence related to patient data access or system backups should be mapped to the relevant requirements rather than treated as automatically sufficient across every framework.
Folksoft supports SOC 2 and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001, GDPR, NIST, and CIS Controls. Essential Eight-specific coverage should be confirmed if it is a required framework.
Can Essential Eight and Other Frameworks Be Managed Together?
Yes, but the degree of overlap varies.
Common areas may include:
- Identity and access management
- Multi-factor authentication
- Policies
- Risk management
- Evidence management
- Monitoring
- Security controls
- Access reviews
A practical approach is to:
- Identify the requirements for each framework.
- Map overlapping controls.
- Reuse appropriate evidence.
- Identify framework-specific gaps.
- Remediate the gaps.
- Continue monitoring the controls.
This can prevent startups from building disconnected compliance processes as they grow.
Folksoft Verdict
Folksoft offers a compliance co-founder model rather than just a software platform: a dedicated GRC analyst, autonomous remediation for supported findings, and hands-on programme management, designed for founders who want compliance handled rather than another system to operate. For SOC 2, Folksoft works with an independent CPA firm experienced in SOC 2 examinations. If Essential Eight is a specific contractual or government requirement, confirm the required Essential Eight maturity mapping and assessment scope before engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Essential Eight?
The Essential Eight is a set of eight cybersecurity mitigation strategies developed by the Australian Signals Directorate to help organisations reduce the risk of common cyber threats.
What are the Essential Eight maturity levels?
The Essential Eight has four maturity levels: ML0, ML1, ML2, and ML3. Each level represents progressively stronger implementation of the eight mitigation strategies.
What is the best Essential Eight compliance software for startups?
The appropriate Essential Eight compliance software depends on the startup's requirements. Essential Eight-focused tools may be useful when native maturity tracking is the primary requirement, while broader compliance providers may be relevant when the startup also needs frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR.
Does Folksoft support Essential Eight?
Essential Eight is not currently listed as a native Folksoft framework. Startups with a specific Essential Eight requirement should confirm whether the required maturity mapping, technical assessment, and implementation support are within the engagement scope.
Can a startup achieve Essential Eight compliance without hiring a compliance team?
A startup can use software, cybersecurity specialists, consultants, or a combination of these approaches rather than building a large internal compliance team. The important consideration is ensuring that someone owns assessment, implementation, remediation, evidence, and ongoing maintenance.
Does Essential Eight replace ISO 27001 or SOC 2?
No. Essential Eight, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 have different purposes and requirements. Some controls may overlap, but implementing one does not automatically satisfy the others.
Does Essential Eight require an audit?
Assessment requirements depend on the organisation and the applicable government, regulatory, or contractual requirements. Startups should confirm whether an independent assessment is required for their specific situation.
Which Essential Eight maturity level should a startup target?
The appropriate maturity level depends on the startup's risk profile and the requirements imposed by customers, government contracts, insurers, regulators, or other stakeholders. Startups should establish the required target before building their implementation roadmap.
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