The New CSA Consultancy Program Will Ensure Best Practices in Secure Cloud Implementation

By Daniele Catteddu, Chief Technology Officer, CSA

As increasing numbers of enterprises begin the move to the cloud in earnest, there has simultaneously developed a host of third-party consultancy firms, offering guidance on cloud technology best practices and implementation. Recognizing that there is a genuine need for a trusted network, where organizations and professionals can be relied on to provide high-quality cloud security consultancy services based on CSA best practices, we are launching a new initiative–the CSA Consultancy Program (CSA-CP) that will go live in mid-2017 with Optiv as the first certified provider.

The overreaching goal of the CSA-CP is to support organizations looking to improve their cloud security posture and implement high standards of compliance and assurance. This new program will provide a registry–the CSA Consultancy Services Registry (CSA-CSR)–a web repository similar to the CSA STAR Registry and in doing so will simplify the research for trusted consultancy services and speed the adoption of effective, secure cloud implementations.

Grounded with CSA’s best practices, the program will be offered from a highly-vetted, trusted network of organizations and professionals, and we couldn’t be more pleased to count Optiv as our first provider.

“As a long-time supporter of CSA’s best practices, certifications and guidance, we look forward to helping organizations better understand how to implement an effective cloud security posture and ensure compliance and assurance standards are met,” said JD Sherry, Vice President, GM, Cloud Security & Strategy, Optiv, Inc. “The consultancy program will serve an excellent purpose in this regard and we are proud that Optiv is part of what we expect to be a valuable program in the future.”

The qualifications that must be met are rigorous. In order to be listed as a CSA Qualified Consultancy Service Provider, organizations must demonstrate they have completed and passed the:

• Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) examination,
• CSA CCM training course,
• CSA STAR Certification Qualified Auditor designation and/or Consultant designation, and
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) current year exam completion.

With the widespread adoption of CSA best practices, we see an opportunity and need for a repository of qualified and trusted cloud security experts. Securing the cloud continues to be our top priority, and the CSA-CP will help achieve this.