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Key compliance frameworks in Australia: Privacy Act, CPS 234 & more
Evan Rowse
GRC Subject Matter Expert
Accelerating security solutions for small businesses Tagore offers strategic services to small businesses. | A partnership that can scale Tagore prioritized finding a managed compliance partner with an established product, dedicated support team, and rapid release rate. | Standing out from competitors Tagore's partnership with Vanta enhances its strategic focus and deepens client value, creating differentiation in a competitive market. |
Organisations operating in Australia navigate a combination of international and region-specific requirements to meet their regulatory obligations and manage compliance risk.
The country has a mature compliance landscape with frameworks and regulations governing cybersecurity, privacy, and operational resilience. To build an efficient compliance program, you have to scope which frameworks apply to your organisation and how they overlap. This guide will overview eight key frameworks that support businesses in Australia, helping you assess potential compliance obligations and check whether you can reuse your existing controls.
Australia’s multi-framework compliance landscape
Australia’s compliance environment is multi-layered, and organisations may need to juggle obligations rooted in industry and customer expectations as well as government contracting. You’re typically handling multiple compliance frameworks in parallel: Australia-specific regulations for financial services, privacy, and critical infrastructure, alongside voluntary standards such as ISO 27001 or NIST CSF that demonstrate security maturity.
A genuine challenge is streamlining compliance obligations and minimising redundancies in effort. For example, many of the frameworks applicable in Australia expect controls for access and vendor risk management.
Access control evidence is probably the single most reusable asset in a compliance program because every major framework is fundamentally asking whether you can demonstrate the right people have the right access.
Similarly, many companies don’t realise their SaaS vendor stack is a major cross-framework liability. Security and privacy frameworks both start with the same foundational question: “Where is the data?” The frameworks then layer their own controls on top of it. This can leave teams conducting security and privacy due diligence on the same vendors multiple times across different compliance cycles, when a single well-structured vendor record could support all of them from the start.
“When you’re managing multiple overlapping compliance requirements, stop thinking framework-by-framework. Australian organisations rarely live under a single ruleset.
A fintech, for example, may be navigating the Privacy Act, CPS 234, CPS 230, and often ISO 27001 simultaneously. The programs that scale are built around a single control library mapped to multiple frameworks, rather than parallel programs stacked on top of each other.”
Evan Rowse
8 common compliance frameworks in Australia
The following is an overview of core regulations and frameworks applicable in Australia, followed by more detailed sections:
1. Essential Eight
The Essential Eight (E8) is an Australian cybersecurity framework introduced in 2017 to help organisations strengthen their systems against cyber threats. It’s published and maintained by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC).
Compliance with the Essential Eight is mandatory for all Australian non-corporate Commonwealth entities under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF). Other organisations that handle sensitive data and want to improve their cyber resilience can also consider alignment. Being a government-established framework, E8 has become a common benchmark for measuring cybersecurity maturity in government procurement and insurance underwriting.
E8 doesn’t prescribe penalties for non-compliance, except for government entities that may face administrative scrutiny. Instead, organisations that fail to meet Essential Eight criteria can get penalised under other Australian regulations, including the Privacy Act 1988 and the SOCI Act.
To comply with the Essential Eight, organisations must implement controls prescribed by the framework’s eight mitigation strategies and work toward the maturity level appropriate for their risk profile. Many of these controls overlap with requirements found in ISO 27001, CPS 234, and SOCI, so you can reuse them to accelerate compliance.
2. ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is a certifiable, globally recognised information security standard that guides organisations as they establish and maintain an information security management system (ISMS). It takes a risk-based approach, which requires organisations to pick applicable controls based on their risk environment. This makes the standard technology- and jurisdiction-neutral.
Compliance with ISO 27001 isn’t mandatory, but it’s considered a best practice across sectors, including SaaS, financial services, and government. Buyers and government agencies in Australia typically expect to see ISO 27001 certification during procurement, especially if it covers cloud services, software development, IT infrastructure, or sensitive data.
There aren’t any regulatory penalties tied to failing certification, but you can face a strong contractual push to demonstrate ISO 27001 or equivalent alignment.
To get ISO 27001-certified, organisations must build an ISMS, choose and implement relevant Annex A controls, and then undergo an independent third-party audit. Due to its broad focus on information security and risk management, ISO 27001 shares overlaps with CPS 234, PSPF, the SOCI Act, and Essential Eight.
{{cta_withimage2="/cta-blocks"}} | ISO 27001 checklist
3. Privacy Act 1988
The Privacy Act 1988 is an Australian regulation that regulates how private information in Australia is collected, stored, and used. The Act still receives regular updates to account for evolving data-driven technologies, business models, and expectations around personal information.
Compliance is enforced by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and is mandatory for all Australian government agencies, the Norfolk Island administration, and organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million. The Act also covers some organisations below the threshold, including certain health service providers and businesses trading in personal information.
Major reforms to the Privacy Act are underway in 2026–2027. The Act will phase out the small business exemption, bringing thousands of additional organisations in Australia under strict compliance requirements for the first time.
Another potential change that carries long-term weight is the proposed Privacy Act Tranche 2. Once implemented, it’s expected to introduce an overarching fair and reasonable test for data collection, use and disclosure, and updates to definitions of personal information and consent, which should bring Australian law closer to the European model.
Violations of the Privacy Act can result in substantial financial penalties and increased OAIC scrutiny. To align with the Act, you must implement the 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Many provisions overlap with ISO 27001 and the GDPR, particularly around data protection and governance.
4. Security of Critical Infrastructure Act (SOCI Act)
The SOCI Act is an Australian regulation intended to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure assets in Australia. Under the Act, critical infrastructure assets are facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks whose disruptions would significantly impact the social and economic well-being of Australia.
SOCI compliance is mandatory for all organisations responsible for regulated critical infrastructure assets across 11 sectors:
- Communications
- Financial services and markets
- Data storage or processing
- Defence industry
- Higher education and research
- Energy
- Food and grocery
- Healthcare and medical
- Space technology
- Transport
- Water and sewerage
Failing to meet the SOCI Act’s criteria can result in substantial financial penalties, enforceable undertakings, and injunctions. The penalties are calculated using penalty units, which depend on the type and impact of the violation. In limited scenarios, enforcement can also take the form of criminal prosecutions.
To meet the requirements, implement the obligations that apply to your assets, such as incident reporting, risk management programs (where relevant), and resilience controls. Some of the measures overlap with ISO 27001 or Essential Eight.
5. CPS 234
Prudential Standard CPS 234: Information Security is an Australian prudential standard that sets out cyber resilience requirements for organisations operating in the financial sector.
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) enforces compliance with CPS 234, and it applies to all entities regulated by the agency, including authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs), general insurers, life insurers, private health insurers, and RSE licensees (superannuation trustees). Importantly, its requirements also cover information assets managed by third parties on behalf of regulated entities.
CPS 234 doesn’t prescribe penalties for non-compliance, but APRA can use its supervisory and enforcement powers where entities fail to meet their obligations. Organisations may still be liable under other related regulations, such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the SOCI Act.
To align with CPS 234, establish and embed robust data security practices into your day-to-day operations. Many requirements overlap with standards like ISO 27001 and, more importantly, CPS 230, which together provide comprehensive security across cyber resilience, service provider management, and information security.
{{cta_withimage40="/cta-blocks"}} | CPS 234 checklist
6. CPS 230
Prudential Standard CPS 230 Operational Risk Management is another prudential standard introduced by APRA, which establishes strict criteria for service provider management, operational risk management, and business continuity.
CPS 230 requirements for material service provider arrangements have a staged commencement from 1 July 2025, replacing five existing APRA standards:
- CPS 231 Outsourcing
- CPS 232 Business Continuity Management
- HPS 231 Outsourcing
- SPS 231 Outsourcing
- SPS 232 Business Continuity Management
Like CPS 234, CPS 230 is enforced by APRA, with mandatory compliance for APRA-regulated entities and requirements extending to material service provider arrangements. CPS 230 also doesn’t prescribe penalties for non-compliance, but APRA has supervisory or enforcement authority over regulated entities.
CPS 230 requires you to identify critical assets, establish business continuity plans, strengthen your incident response procedures, and define governance and risk management practices. The standard overlaps with CPS 234, ISO 27001, and the SOCI Act, among other enterprise frameworks.
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7. Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)
The PSPF is designed to protect individuals, data, and assets through structured security requirements. Australia’s Department of Home Affairs oversees compliance, although the Accountable Authorities of government entities are responsible for case-by-case enforcement.
Compliance with the PSPF is mandatory for all Australian Government non-corporate Commonwealth entities. Corporate entities and external contractors may also need to meet relevant PSPF requirements depending on contractual arrangements.
Failure to meet PSPF requirements can result in regulatory scrutiny, affect accreditation, and jeopardise your current government contracts or make you ineligible to bid on new ones.
To align with the PSPF, implement strong security practices, conduct regular assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities, and continuously monitor your control implementation for ongoing alignment. Many of the PSPF’s requirements overlap with standards like Essential Eight, ISO 27001, and DISP.
8. Defence Industry Security Program (DISP)
DISP is a government program to help organisations protect sensitive Defence information and meet security expectations. It was introduced by and is actively enforced by the Australian Department of Defence (ADD).
DISP compliance is required for organisations looking to become part of the ADD supply chain and handle Defence information or meet Defence security requirements. Importantly, some ADD contracts might also require your organisation to become a DISP member.
Failing to meet DISP requirements can result in suspension or termination of membership, loss of eligibility for Defence contracts, and consequences for current contracts. If the violation breaches an Australian regulation, it could result in regulatory, civil, or criminal penalties.
To align with DISP, meet its criteria across cyber, information, system, and personnel security domains. Some requirements overlap with other Australian standards, such as PSPF and Essential Eight.
Which compliance frameworks apply to your industry?
The standards that apply to your industry depend largely on your customer base, the type of data you handle, and your relationship with government and infrastructure providers. The table below provides an overview of standards that typically apply to key industries:
Compliance complexity and the risk of duplicated work increase with each new framework you add. To keep your program manageable, build the underlying security and risk management foundation before layering on individual frameworks.
“If you’re a startup or working with a lean compliance team, it’s best to strengthen your security foundation. Get your core compliance infrastructure going before you scale your program.
Start by getting your asset inventory, access controls, and vendor list under management, because every Australia-focused framework you'll eventually touch, be it the Privacy Act, Essential Eight, CPS 234, or ISO 27001, will need you to know what data you hold, who can reach it, and which third parties process it. Nail those fundamentals first and the framework you adopt later becomes a mapping exercise, not a rebuild.”
Evan Rowse
A sustainable way to approach multi-framework compliance is by leveraging top-rated compliance automation platforms like Vanta. It has built-in support for many Australian as well as global frameworks, helping you reuse implementation evidence, maintain ongoing oversight, and streamline compliance workflows.
Manage your Australian compliance stack with Vanta
Vanta is the leading agentic trust platform that helps organisations across the globe modernise their GRC program. The platform helps you maintain compliance with 35+ relevant frameworks and standards, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, Essential Eight, CPS 234, and the GDPR. It also offers multiple resources to help you build a robust compliance foundation. For example, you get a privacy module to manage your data privacy obligations across jurisdictions and a vendor risk management solution to address third-party risk and ongoing monitoring.
You can build your own compliance stack with Vanta’s custom frameworks and tailor your compliance strategy per your needs.
Organisations operating in Australia might prioritise our Essential Eight and CPS 234 frameworks to get an automation-enabled setup for:
- Gap remediation and evidence collection
- 1,400+ automated, hourly tests across 400+ integrations
- Real-time alerts for control failures
- AI-supported control mappings, policy importing and summaries, and SLA remediation
- Framework mapping to reuse evidence of existing controls
- Access to a network of accredited auditors for support and remediation
Schedule a custom demo today for a personalised walkthrough for your team.
{{cta_simple7="/cta-blocks"}} | Automated GRC demo
Vanta is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute or contain legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. When determining your obligations and compliance with respect to relevant laws and regulations, you should consult a licensed attorney.
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