One of the eight mitigation strategies in the Essential Eight, checked against 4 tests at Maturity Level One.
Hardening turns off the features attackers abuse but most staff never touch, such as Flash, Java in the browser, Office OLE objects and web advertising, shrinking the ways an attack can begin.
Why it matters
Every feature left enabled is another door. Most can be closed centrally without staff noticing, cutting risk across hundreds of devices in one move.
Where Intelligence Group fits
- Block browser access to Flash, advertising and Java wherever possible
- Disable OLE and legacy features in Office that nobody needs
- Harden PDF readers against embedded content
- Push hardening through central policy rather than device by device
- Check the settings against current ASD guidance with each release
Where Intelligence Group fits
Intelligence Group rates this strategy from the evidence your organisation already generates, reports the maturity level it supports, and sets out the next step to lift it.
Official guidance: ASD Essential Eight Maturity Model