Robbie Cronin
Robbie Cronin
AISA Member

Essential 8 ML2 for defence suppliers.
Fixed scope. Done in 1-2 weeks.

The November 2025 E8 deadline has passed. Every DISP member should be at Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 across their entire corporate IT environment. If you haven't made the move from Top 4, you're already non-compliant. Find out exactly where your gaps are.

Guarantee: Under 3 critical gaps found? You don't pay.

Sound familiar?

The E8 deadline has passed

November 2025 was the cutoff. DISP members had to move from Top 4 to full Essential Eight ML2. If you haven't done it, your next annual review is going to be a problem.

Defence primes are asking

Your tier 1 customer needs assurance you meet DISP requirements. Without evidence, you risk losing contracts worth more than the compliance work itself.

Annual reviews have teeth

DISP membership can be suspended or revoked for non-compliance. Losing membership means losing the ability to bid on defence work.

AUKUS is creating opportunity

The submarine program is opening thousands of new supply chain roles. DISP membership is the entry ticket. Companies that get compliant now will be first in line.

DISP readiness check

Not sure where your gaps are?

5 yes/no questions. Takes 30 seconds.

// what you get

DISP Compliance Assessment

All four DISP security domains reviewed in one engagement. One report, one person accountable. Written so your board and your defence prime can actually read it.

Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 gap analysis
ICT/cyber security controls audit against DISP requirements
Application control and patching assessment
MFA and admin privilege review
Backup and recovery posture check
Board-ready compliance report with remediation roadmap

Included if relevant to your business:

ISO 27001:2022 gap analysis
Cyber insurance readiness review
Supply chain security assessment

Consultancies send a team of 5 for 3 months.

One engineer. 1-2 weeks.

Fixed scope. Fixed price. Same rigour, less overhead.

Your report doubles as DIDG grant application evidence. Government co-funds up to 50% of implementation costs.

Under 3 critical gaps found? You don't pay.

Zero risk. I've never had to honour this.

// government grants

The government will cover up to 50% of your costs.

The Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) Security Stream co-funds cyber security improvements for defence suppliers. You need an audit report to apply. Our assessment produces exactly that.

$10K-$100K grants

DIDG Security Stream grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. 50% co-funded, so the government matches what you spend.

Rolling applications

No fixed deadline. You can apply any time. Most companies get a decision within 8-12 weeks of submitting.

Our report is your application

The gap analysis and remediation roadmap from our assessment is exactly what the grant application asks for. You don't need to do extra work.

Our assessment report is what you need to apply for DIDG grants. One engagement unlocks up to $100K in government co-funding.

// how it works

Three steps. No surprises.

01

Free scorecard

2 minutes. See where your organisation stands against Essential Eight and DISP security requirements. No email needed.

Take the scorecard
02

Deep assessment

1-2 weeks, fixed price. I review your controls, policies, and security posture across all four DISP domains.

03

Board-ready report

Compliance report with remediation roadmap. Written for your board and your defence prime, not just your IT team.

// who this is for

This is for you if...

A prime just told you to get DISP

Your tier 1 customer said you need DISP membership to keep the contract. You need to know what's involved before you commit.

You saw a tender that requires DISP

There's a defence contract you want to bid on, but DISP membership is listed as a requirement. You need to get compliant fast.

Your Annual Security Report has gaps

Your ASR is due and you know you've got gaps under the new E8 rules. You need to understand the size of the problem before your review.

You want in on AUKUS supply chain work

The submarine program is creating thousands of new opportunities. DISP membership is the entry ticket, and companies that move now will be first in line.

// why me and not a consultancy
Robbie Cronin

One engineer. Not a sales team.

I'm a senior software engineer with 10+ years in platform infrastructure. CNCF maintainer. I've taken companies through compliance certifications and I do the assessment myself. No juniors, no handoffs, no 200-page report written by a graduate who's never seen production code.

You talk to me, I do the work, I write the report. That's why it costs a fraction of what consultancies charge.

Ex-Big TechCNCF Maintainer10+ YearsMelbourne

“You can see the difference of having a proper CTO knowing what they're doing. It's great to see you progressing this much.”

External Compliance Auditor

Certification engagement

Libby Roberts

“He doesn't just build what's asked; he helps shape what's needed. Deeply technical, dependable, and an outstanding communicator.”

Libby Roberts

Founder, LeapForward

// questions

Common questions

What is DISP?

The Defence Industry Security Program is run by the Australian Government. It's mandatory for businesses that need to access or store classified information, work on defence projects, or bid on defence tenders.

What's Essential Eight ML2?

Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 is the second tier of the ASD's cybersecurity framework. It requires specific implementations across application control, patching, macro settings, user application hardening, admin privileges, MFA, backups, and patching operating systems.

How is this different from a Big 4 engagement?

Three ways. First, I do the work myself. No juniors, no handoffs. You get a senior engineer with 10+ years experience, not a team where the partner shows up for the pitch and a graduate does the assessment. Second, fixed scope and fixed price. No billable hours adding up. Third, it takes 1-2 weeks instead of 6-8. Same rigour, less overhead.

Can you help with implementation?

Yes. The assessment identifies gaps and prioritises them. If you need help closing those gaps, I can scope a remediation engagement separately. Most entities start with the assessment and then decide what they want to tackle themselves vs what they need help with.

Do I need DISP if I'm in the defence supply chain?

If your customer requires it or if you handle any classified or sensitive defence information, yes. Even if you're a subcontractor. Your tier 1 prime may require DISP membership as a contract condition.

What happened with the November 2025 E8 deadline?

All DISP members were required to move from the old Top 4 mitigation strategies to full Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 by November 2025. If you haven't completed that transition, you're non-compliant now. Your next annual review will flag it.

Do I need DISP for AUKUS supply chain work?

Yes. DISP membership is a prerequisite for participating in the AUKUS submarine program supply chain. The program is creating thousands of new opportunities across manufacturing, engineering, and technology. Getting DISP-compliant now puts you at the front of the queue.

What are DIDG Security Stream grants?

The Defence Industry Development Grants (DIDG) Security Stream provides $10K-$100K in co-funding for cyber security improvements. The government matches 50% of what you spend. Applications are rolling, so there's no deadline. Our assessment report is exactly what you need to submit with your application.

Don't wait for your next DISP review.

Take the quick check above, or book a 15-min chat and I'll walk through what DISP compliance means for your organisation.

Taking on 2-3 DISP assessments per month. First in, first served.