Publication Peer Review

CAIQ v4.1
Open Until: 08/08/2025
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), in collaboration with the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) Working Group are pleased to announce the release of the Final Draft of the Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) version 4.1 for open peer review. We invite cloud security professionals and organizations to participate and provide valuable feedback on the proposed updates.
Project Scope and Objectives
The CAIQ is a foundational security questionnaire that enables cloud service providers to perform self-assessments against the CCMv4.1 as part of CSA’s Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk (STAR) Program. Aligned with the CCM, it helps organizations assess how well cloud services implement relevant security controls. CAIQ v4.1 builds upon the existing CAIQ v4.0.3 by refining current questions and introducing new ones to address emerging technologies and evolving threat landscapes. This update aims to improve the clarity, relevance, and effectiveness of the questionnaire to support the assessment and implementation transparency and accountability of cloud security best practices.
Why Your Input Matters
Cloud security is a shared responsibility, and the CAIQ is a vital tool for providers and customers to ensure that cloud services meet baseline security requirements. Your expert insights will help us:
- Validate the practical relevance and usability of the updated and new questions
- Identify any gaps, redundancies, or ambiguities in the current final draft
- Ensure the balance between comprehensiveness and ease of industry adoption
Peer Review Period
The review will be open until 08/08. Following the review period, the CCM WG will consolidate feedback and prepare the final release of CAIQ v4.1.
How to Participate
Please access the draft via the provided link. Reviewers are encouraged to comment directly in the document, focusing on the content and technical substance of the questionnaire items rather than editorial suggestions.
Your expertise is critical to making CAIQ v4.1 a robust and widely accepted self-assessment tool within CSA’s STAR Program. We look forward to your constructive contributions and thank you in advance for your participation.
Contribute to Peer Review
Peer Review AgreementBy participating in this peer review, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
- Your name will be included as a reviewer only if you provide substantive feedback (e.g., content, clarity, accuracy). Feedback limited to grammar, syntax, or formatting will not qualify for acknowledgement.
- CSA's authors will have final descretion over which suggestions are incorporated into the document. Not all feedback will be implemented.
- You will not plagiarize or submit unmodified AI-generated text. If using AI-generated content, you must apply your expertise to refine, reformat, or integrate it meaningfully into the document.
Open Until: 08/08/2025