Government contracts are among the most valuable and sticky in any MSP portfolio. They also have the most demanding compliance requirements. MSPs that invest in GRC capability — particularly IRAP and Essential Eight maturity — gain a significant and defensible advantage in government procurement.
Who this is for: MSPs targeting federal, state, or local government clients in Australia and comparable government frameworks globally.
TL;DR
- Government contracts in Australia require Essential Eight compliance and often IRAP assessment
- MSPs without credible GRC capability are excluded from government panels and procurement processes
- 6clicks includes pre-built Essential Eight and IRAP frameworks ready for government client delivery
- If you serve or want to serve government agencies, Essential Eight maturity is non-negotiable
Government agencies at all levels in Australia are subject to mandatory security frameworks. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) defines the Essential Eight Maturity Model, which the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) mandates as the baseline for all non-corporate Commonwealth entities. Many state governments have adopted similar requirements.
Vendors and MSPs providing services to government must be able to demonstrate that they meet these requirements — and increasingly, that they can help the agency maintain compliance continuously.
Here are several frameworks relevant to Australian Government organisations:
Essential Eight
The Essential Eight is a prioritised set of eight mitigation strategies developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and published by the ACSC to protect against common cyber threats. Maturity levels range from 0–3, with most government agencies requiring Maturity Level 2 or higher from their technology vendors. 6clicks includes a pre-built Essential Eight framework with all eight strategies mapped, assessment questionnaires, and evidence collection workflows.
ISM and IRAP
The Information Security Manual (ISM) defines the cybersecurity controls required to protect Australian Government information. On the other hand, IRAP assessments are required for systems handling Australian Government information. While formal IRAP assessments must be conducted by an accredited IRAP assessor, MSPs can use 6clicks to align clients to the ISM, manage remediation, and prepare for IRAP assessment readiness.
ISO 27001
Many government contracts also require ISO 27001 certification or alignment as a condition of vendor selection. 6clicks supports full ISO 27001 delivery alongside Essential Eight, ISM, and IRAP.
Government RFPs typically include specific security and compliance requirements sections. MSPs with 6clicks can respond with:
This level of specificity differentiates from MSPs who provide generic security service descriptions.
Government compliance is ongoing, not one-off. The right service model for government clients includes:
6clicks supports all of these delivery components within a single managed service subscription.