Hck4G Meetup #0x17 – RIP Essential Eight — What's Next for Australian Cyber?

A cybersecurity meetup for the community, by the community.

Hck4G is an Australian not-for-profit organisation focused on disrupting the human impact of cybercrime through awareness, education, intervention, victim support, and creating ethical pathways into technology and cybersecurity. Our monthly meetups bring together students, professionals, industry leaders, and organisations to explore real-world cybersecurity challenges while fostering a strong community committed to defending people, not just systems.

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About the Session

For almost a decade, the Australian Cyber Security Centre's (ACSC) Essential Eight has been the benchmark for improving cybersecurity maturity across Australian organisations.

Now, one of Australia's most recognised cybersecurity frameworks is entering its next chapter.

The Australian Government has announced plans to transition from the Essential Eight to the new Essentials Series—a broader, outcomes-based approach designed to better address modern enterprise environments, cloud computing, operational technology, artificial intelligence, and evolving cyber threats.

But what does this mean for Australian organisations?

Should security teams be changing direction? Are previous Essential Eight investments still relevant? And how should organisations prepare for what's next?

Join Yashodhan (Yash) Vaidya, Cyber Security Advisor at Rapid7, as he explores the history, impact, and future of Australia's cybersecurity baseline. From its origins as the ASD's "Top Four" mitigation strategies through to the forthcoming Essentials Series, this session provides practical guidance on navigating the transition while continuing to strengthen organisational cyber resilience.

Whether you work in governance, risk, compliance, security operations, engineering, architecture or leadership, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of where Australian cybersecurity is heading and how your organisation can prepare.

This Session Is Designed For

CISOs and cybersecurity leaders
GRC and risk professionals
Security architects and engineers
SOC analysts and incident responders
IT managers and infrastructure teams
Cloud and platform engineers
Government and critical infrastructure practitioners
Students and aspiring cybersecurity professionals
Anyone interested in the future of Australian cybersecurity

What You'll Learn

The history and evolution of the Essential Eight
Why it became Australia's most widely adopted cybersecurity baseline
The problem it was originally designed to solve
Where the framework has succeeded—and where it has limitations
Why the Essential Eight is being retired
An introduction to the new Essentials Series
What organisations should be doing during the transition
How to move beyond compliance towards threat-informed cybersecurity

Speaker – Yashodhan (Yash) Vaidya

Cyber Security Advisor, Rapid7

Yashodhan (Yash) Vaidya is a Cyber Security Advisor at Rapid7 based in Melbourne, helping enterprise organisations strengthen their cybersecurity posture, manage cyber risk, and build resilience against an increasingly complex threat landscape.

With a background in cybersecurity research, including active involvement in cybercrime disruption initiatives, Yash brings a unique perspective that bridges strategic advisory, operational security, and real-world threat intelligence. He is passionate about helping organisations navigate complex security challenges and enabling risk-based security strategies that support broader business objectives.

Yash holds several industry-recognised certifications, including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), ISO/IEC 27001, AWS Certified Security – Specialty (AWS CSA-A), Microsoft SC-200, InsightIDR Specialist, and InsightVM Certified Administrator.

Event Information

Date: Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (AEST)

Venue:
RMIT University, Melbourne
Building 13, Level 3, Room 9

Online: Livestream available (registration required)

Cost: Free

Catering: Pizza and drinks provided

What to Bring

Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions
Business cards (optional)
Laptop or tablet for note-taking (optional)

Event Schedule

5:30 – 5:40 PM
Welcome, introductions and community updates

5:40 – 6:00 PM
Networking & Cyber Pizzas

6:00 – 6:50 PM
Presentation

6:50 – 7:30 PM
Community discussion and Q&A

7:30 – 8:00 PM
Networking

Monthly Global Cybercrime Impact Report

Every Hck4G Meetup begins with a concise update on the latest cybercrime developments from Australia and around the world. We'll examine emerging trends, notable incidents, and key lessons that help security professionals stay informed about the evolving threat landscape.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

RMIT University
World-class certificates, undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs.

Cymph.io
Cymph is an incident response readiness platform, helping security teams know their readiness, close the gaps, and respond with confidence. We're grateful for their support of the Hck4G community and what it means for events like ours to keep growing.

BridgeLynk.io
Attack-informed cybersecurity consulting and advisory services for not-for-profits, SMBs and enterprise organisations.

CyLynk.com
Job-ready cybersecurity training delivered through expert coaching, hands-on labs, and real-world learning.

About Hck4G

Hck4G (Hack for Good) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation dedicated to disrupting the human impact of cybercrime through awareness, education, intervention, victim support, and ethical technology pathways. Our monthly meetups bring together students, practitioners, researchers, and industry leaders to share knowledge, build community, and strengthen Australia's cybersecurity capability.

Join us for another evening of practical learning, meaningful discussion, and great community connections.

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