STAR Security, Trust & Assurance Registry (CSA)

The STAR Security, Trust & Assurance Registry, often abbreviated as CSA STAR, is a globally recognized initiative established by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). It is a publicly accessible registry that provides organizations with a framework and guidance to assess and communicate their cloud service providers' security posture and practices.

The CSA STAR program aims to promote transparency and trust within the cloud computing industry by encouraging cloud service providers (CSPs) to document and publish their security controls and practices. The registry allows customers and stakeholders to make informed decisions when selecting a cloud service provider by providing them with detailed information about the security measures in place.

Here are the key elements and features of the CSA STAR program:

1. Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): The CSA STAR program offers a standardized questionnaire that CSPs can complete to assess their security practices. The questionnaire covers various domains, including data protection, vulnerability management, incident response, and compliance. CSPs can choose to submit their SAQ responses to the CSA for inclusion in the registry.
2. Consensus Assessments Initiative (CAIQ): The Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) is a companion to the SAQ. It provides a set of industry-accepted questions that organizations can ask their CSPs regarding security control implementation. The CAIQ helps organizations evaluate the security capabilities of their potential or existing cloud service providers.
3. Published Security Reports: In addition to the SAQ and CAIQ, CSPs have the option to submit their independent third-party audit reports, such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, or FedRAMP, to the CSA. These reports provide further validation of the CSPs' security controls and practices.
4. CSA STAR Levels of Assurance (LoA): The CSA STAR program defines three levels of assurance that CSPs can achieve: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These levels reflect the maturity and comprehensiveness of the security controls implemented by the CSP. The levels are determined based on the self-assessment and audit reports submitted by the CSPs.
5. Public Registry: The CSA STAR Registry serves as a public repository of all the self-assessment questionnaires, CAIQs, and audit reports submitted by CSPs. It allows organizations and customers to search and access the security information of various CSPs in a standardized format. The registry provides an easily accessible resource for assessing the security posture of different cloud service providers.
6. Continuous Monitoring: The CSA encourages participating CSPs to continuously monitor and update their security practices. CSPs are expected to keep their security information in the registry up to date, reflecting any changes or improvements in their security controls.

The CSA STAR program aims to foster trust and transparency in the cloud computing industry by providing a standardized approach for assessing and communicating the security capabilities of cloud service providers. It helps organizations make informed decisions about the selection and use of cloud services by providing them with valuable insights into the security practices and controls implemented by CSPs.