IRAP Assessment & Advisory Services
What is IRAP?
IRAP is an Australian Government initiative managed by the ACSC that enables accredited assessors to evaluate and certify an organisation’s security posture against the requirements of the Information Security Manual (ISM).
Why IRAP?
IRAP compliance enables Australian organisations to build credibility with government agencies, strengthen trust across public sector supply chains, and demonstrate alignment with the Australian Signals Directorate’s Information Security Manual (ISM) and Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF). It helps ensure that cloud, SaaS, and managed services meet rigorous security requirements, reducing procurement friction and accelerating due diligence. IRAP also supports maturity against the Essential Eight and reinforces assurance frameworks across critical digital environments.
The Business Value of IRAP Compliance (Australia)
- AUD 3.9 billion in government cloud contracts awarded to IRAP-assessed providers between 2020–2023 (DTA, 2023)
- 94% of government tenders for cloud services require IRAP assessment or equivalent (Australian Government Procurement, 2023)
- IRAP-assessed cloud services experience a 70% faster procurement cycle in government tenders (InfoSec Australia Cloud Report, 2023)
- ACSC audits and spot checks IRAP compliance annually across federal and state agencies (ACSC Annual Report, 2023)
- Non-compliance or expired IRAP assessments have resulted in project delays & loss of contracts (Defence Industry Security Office, 2023)
Our IRAP Services
Readiness Assessment & Gap Analysis (aligned to ISM & PSPF)
Security Architecture Review & Hardening Support
Policy & Procedure Development (aligned to IRAP & Essential 8)
Evidence Collection & Control Validation
Remediation Support: Hands-on help to close gaps prior to formal assessment
IRAP Assessor Liaison & Audit Defence
Post-Assessment Managed Compliance: Ongoing control reviews & reporting support
Achieve IRAP Assessment Confidence
CyberPulse’s IRAP Assessment & Advisory Services ensure your systems meet the stringent requirements of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), helping you gain market access and demonstrate compliance at the highest level.
Associated Services We Offer
Managed Compliance Services (continuous IRAP compliance health checks)
ISO 27001 & Essential 8 Alignment
Penetration Testing & Red Teaming
Cloud Security & Secure Architecture Advisory
Incident Response Planning & Tabletop Exercises
Third-Party Vendor Risk Assessments
Why CyberPulse?
Expertise
Award Winning Consultants with deep ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS expertise
Fixed-Price
Fixed-price delivery model with predictable costs and timelines
Support
End-to-end support — from gap analysis to certification and beyond
FAQ – IRAP Compliance
What is IRAP?
The Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) is an Australian Government initiative managed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). It provides a framework for assessing the implementation and effectiveness of information security controls within systems and services. An IRAP assessment is often required for organisations providing services to Australian Government agencies, particularly in cloud and critical infrastructure environments.
Why is IRAP important?
IRAP ensures that organisations handling government data or operating in critical supply chains meet stringent security requirements aligned with the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM). Achieving IRAP compliance:
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Builds trust with government agencies and regulated sectors.
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Demonstrates alignment with ASD security requirements.
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Enables eligibility for government tenders and contracts involving sensitive data.
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Reduces risk by strengthening governance and technical controls.
Who needs an IRAP assesor?
Any organisation seeking to provide services to Australian Government agencies, or operating in critical sectors such as defence, energy, finance, and telecommunications, will likely require an IRAP assessment. Cloud service providers hosting government workloads must also undergo IRAP assessments to demonstrate compliance with ASD security guidelines.
What is the role of an IRAP assessor?
An IRAP assessor is an ASD-accredited professional authorised to evaluate an organisation’s systems against the ISM and related controls. The assessor provides an independent review of your security posture, identifies gaps, and delivers a report to support government accreditation processes.
What is the process for achieving IRAP compliance?
The typical IRAP process involves:
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Readiness assessment – reviewing current security posture against ISM requirements.
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Gap analysis and remediation planning – identifying and addressing control deficiencies.
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Formal IRAP assessment – conducted by an accredited assessor.
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Reporting and accreditation – findings are submitted to relevant agencies for approval.
CyberPulse provides support at every stage, from gap analysis to remediation and assessor engagement.
How does CyberPulse support IRAP compliance?
CyberPulse offers end-to-end IRAP services including:
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Pre-assessment readiness reviews to benchmark your environment against ISM requirements.
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Remediation support and policy documentation to close compliance gaps.
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Collaboration with accredited IRAP assessors to streamline the formal assessment process.
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Ongoing managed compliance services to ensure continuous alignment with ISM and ASD requirements.
How does IRAP align with other compliance frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and Essential Eight?
IRAP shares common controls with global standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2, and integrates closely with the Essential Eight maturity model. CyberPulse harmonises IRAP requirements with broader compliance efforts, reducing duplication, audit fatigue, and cost across multiple frameworks.
How do I get started with IRAP at CyberPulse?
CyberPulse begins with an IRAP readiness assessment. We review your current environment, identify compliance gaps, and create a remediation roadmap tailored to your business and government requirements.