Timely Analysis of Cyber Security Events to Identify Incidents
Quickly review cyber events to find and manage security threats.
Plain language
This control is about making sure that any suspicious activities or security alerts are looked at quickly. It's important because if a threat isn't caught in time, it could lead to data breaches, loss of money, or damage to your business's reputation.
Framework
ASD Essential Eight
Control effect
Detective
E8 mitigation strategy
Application hardening
Classifications
N/A
Official last update
N/A
Control Stack last updated
18 May 2026
E8 maturity levels
ML2
Official control statement
Cyber security events are analysed in a timely manner to identify cyber security incidents.
Why it matters
Delayed analysis of cyber events can leave threats undetected, leading to data breaches or financial loss if incidents aren't swiftly identified.
Operational notes
Prioritise alerts by impact and confidence; use automated triage and defined escalation SLAs so events are reviewed quickly and incidents identified early.
Implementation tips
- Security officer: Ensure the security team has clear procedures for regularly checking security alerts and logs. This can be done by scheduling daily or weekly reviews of alerts generated by systems.
- IT manager: Set up automated alerts within your security software to notify the team of any unusual activity immediately. Use built-in alert settings provided by your security tools.
- IT support staff: Train the IT team on how to recognise suspicious events and what steps to take if something unusual is detected. Organise regular training sessions with real-world examples.
- Business owner: Ensure there's a designated person or team responsible for handling security alerts promptly. Communicate the importance of this role and include it in their job description.
Audit / evidence tips
- AskHow quickly are security alerts typically reviewed by your team?
- GoodThe team reviews and addresses security alerts within defined timeframes, usually within 24 hours, with logs showing prompt responses
- AskWhat procedures are in place to ensure timely analysis of cybersecurity events?
- GoodThere are documented procedures outlining steps for analysing and responding to security events within 24 hours
Cross-framework mappings
How E8-AH-ML2.15 relates to controls across ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 42001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM.
ISO 27001
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| sync_alt Partially overlaps (2) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 5.25 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires cyber security events to be analysed in a timely manner so they can be identified and treated as incidents | |
| Annex A 8.16 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires cyber security events to be analysed timely to identify incidents | |
| handshake Supports (1) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 8.17 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
| extension Depends on (1) expand_less | ||
| Annex A 8.15 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
ASD ISM
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| layers Partially meets (1) expand_less | ||
| ISM-2089 | ISM-2089 requires organisations to monitor AI model performance metrics and investigate anomalies | |
| handshake Supports (5) expand_less | ||
| ISM-0660 | ISM-0660 requires organisations to fully verify data transfer logs for SECRET and TOP SECRET systems at least monthly to ensure transfers... | |
| ISM-1526 | ISM-1526 requires ongoing monitoring of systems and associated cyber threats, security risks and controls by system owners | |
| ISM-1556 | ISM-1556 requires post-travel monitoring for compromise indicators | |
| ISM-1625 | ISM-1625 requires an insider threat mitigation program that includes detection and triage of suspicious internal behaviour and misuse | |
| ISM-1683 | ISM-1683 requires successful and unsuccessful MFA events to be centrally logged | |
| extension Depends on (5) expand_less | ||
| ISM-0120 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires organisations to analyse cyber security events in a timely manner to identify incidents | |
| ISM-0634 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
| ISM-1030 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires organisations to analyse cyber security events in a timely manner to identify incidents | |
| ISM-1830 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
| ISM-1911 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
| link Related (2) expand_less | ||
| ISM-1228 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires cyber security events to be analysed in a timely manner to identify cyber security incidents | |
| ISM-1986 | E8-AH-ML2.15 requires timely analysis of cyber security events to identify incidents | |
These mappings show relationships between controls across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.