In plain English
ASD is the Australian government body that sets the rules for how organisations protect their digital systems. Most Australian businesses encounter ASD through its Essential Eight framework and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), which it operates.
Full definition
The Australian Signals Directorate operates under the Department of Defence and has two primary missions: offensive cyber operations in support of Australia's national interests, and defensive cyber security to protect Australian government and critical infrastructure networks.
For most businesses, ASD is relevant through the — its public-facing cyber security arm — which publishes the , threat advisories, incident reporting guidance, and the (IRAP).
ASD's guidance does not only apply to government. Many private-sector organisations, particularly those working in defence supply chains, critical infrastructure, or with sensitive customer data, voluntarily adopt or are contractually required to meet ASD standards.