CSA STAR
Cloud Security Alliance Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk
Cloud-specific security certification program demonstrating security posture of cloud service providers.
What is CSA STAR?
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk (STAR) program is the industry's most powerful cloud security assurance program. STAR encompasses key principles of transparency, rigorous auditing, and harmonization of standards for cloud security.
STAR offers multiple levels: Level 1 (Self-Assessment), Level 2 (Third-Party Audit), and Continuous certification. The program is based on the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM), which maps to major standards including ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS.
Who Needs CSA STAR?
- Cloud service providers (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
- Cloud-based software companies
- Managed service providers
- Organizations migrating to cloud
- Companies selling to cloud-security-conscious customers
Key Requirements
Core compliance areas for CSA STAR
Cloud Controls Matrix
Implement controls from the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix covering 17 domains.
CAIQ Questionnaire
Complete the Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire documenting security posture.
Attestation Level
Choose appropriate level based on assurance needs: self-assessment, certification, or continuous.
Annual Updates
Maintain and update STAR registry entry annually or upon significant changes.
Transparency
Publish results to CSA STAR Registry for customer visibility.
Benefits of CSA STAR Compliance
- Cloud-specific security validation
- Global recognition in cloud markets
- Streamlined customer security reviews
- Alignment with multiple standards
- Competitive differentiation
- Foundation for enterprise cloud sales
Official Resources
Related Frameworks
SOC 2
The gold standard for demonstrating security practices to enterprise customers and partners.
ISO 27001
The international standard for information security management systems (ISMS).
FedRAMP
Standardized approach to security assessment for cloud products used by federal agencies.