Overview
What this service does
An IRAP assessment is an independent review of your system against the Australian Government Information Security Manual (ISM) by an assessor endorsed under the Infosec Registered Assessors Program. Agencies ask for one before they will host their data on your platform or connect you to their networks. The assessment itself must be independent, so we do not perform it. We get you ready for it.
Readiness means knowing what the assessor will ask for before they ask: which ISM controls are in scope, which ones you meet, which ones you do not, and the evidence that proves each answer. We run that process with you, close the gaps, and assemble an evidence pack so the assessment runs to plan rather than stalling on missing documents.

What's included
Scope of the engagement
- Scoping: the system boundary, classification level and the ISM controls that apply
- Control mapping and a gap register against the current ISM release
- Gap closure plan with owners, effort and sequencing
- System security plan, security risk management plan and incident response plan
- Evidence pack: policies, configurations, screenshots and records organised by control
- Assessor liaison and support during the assessment
- Remediation of findings and preparation for the agency's authorisation decision
Who it's for
Right for you if
- SaaS and managed-service providers hosting Commonwealth data
- Contractors connecting to agency networks or handling PROTECTED information
- Organisations that have been asked for an IRAP assessment in a tender or contract
FAQ
IRAP assessment readiness: common questions
Can you do the IRAP assessment as well as the preparation?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who offers both. The assessment must be independent of the people who built and prepared the system. We prepare; an IRAP assessor assesses.
How long does readiness take?
For a well-managed cloud service, three to six months from scoping to assessment-ready. Systems with little existing documentation take longer, mostly in building the evidence base.
Does ISO/IEC 27001 certification count?
It helps, because many ISM controls overlap with ISO 27001 Annex A, but it does not replace an IRAP assessment. We map the overlap so you reuse evidence rather than producing it twice.
Related
Often combined with

Virtual and fractional CISO
A senior security leader on retainer, scaled to the size of your business.
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Virtual and fractional CTO
Technology direction without an executive hire: architecture, cloud, roadmap and suppliers.
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ISO/IEC 27001 certification
From gap assessment to certificate, with an ISMS that fits your business.
Learn more
Been asked for an IRAP assessment?
Send us the request and we will scope what readiness looks like for your system and timeline.