Security as a Service 
Introduction to Security as a Service
The mission statement of the Cloud Security Alliance is "… a non-profit organization formed to promote the use of best practices for providing security assurance within Cloud Computing, and provide education on the uses of Cloud Computing to help secure all other forms of computing." In order to provide greater focus on the second part of our mission statement, the CSA is embarking on a new research project to provide greater clarity on the area of Security as a Service.
Numerous security vendors are now leveraging cloud based models to deliver security solutions. This shift has occurred for a variety of reasons including greater economies of scale and streamlined delivery mechanisms. Regardless of the motivations for offering such services, consumers are now faced with evaluating security solutions which do not run on premises. Consumers need to understand the unique nature of cloud delivered security offerings so that they are in a position to evaluate the offerings and to understand if they will meet their needs.
The purpose of this research will be to identify consensus definitions of what Security as a Service means, to categorize the different types of Security as a Service and to provide guidance to organizations on reasonable implementation practices. Other research purposes will be identified by the working group.
Security as a Service Leadership
Co-Chairs
Kevin Fielder, WorldPay
Cameron Smith, Pertino
Join the Security as a Service Working Group
- Join the Security as a Service Working Group LinkedIn SubGroup for official initiative updates.
- Join the Security as a Service email announcement list.
- Access the Security as a Service Basecamp site.
- Find more ways to participate on the Security as a Service Calendar.
VOLUNTEER NOW!
The Security as a Service Working Group is inviting all motivated individuals to contribute in the expansion of our Defined Categories of Service research. A few months ago, we published our first white paper "Defined Categories of Service" (See downloads tab). We are now ready to expand each category into an implementation guide. We are seeking experts who can contribute in any of the implementation guides for Security as a Service in all defined categories:
- Identity Access Management
- Data Loss Prevention
- Web Security
- Email Security
- Security Assessments
- Intrusion Management
- Security Information and Event Manager
- Encryption
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
- Network Security
Join us on our bi-weekly calls scheduled on the calendar below.
We welcome all and look forward to your contributions!
Biweekly Working Group Call Calendar
Sponsors of CSA SecaaS Research
The Cloud Security Alliance would like to thank the corporate sponsors that make our research possible. Their continued support enables our working groups to produce the high-quality research products you've come to expect from the Cloud Security Alliance.
Download Security as a Service Related Documents
SecaaS Category 7 // Security Information and Event Management Implementation Guidance
This document provides guidance on how to evaluate, architect, and deploy cloud-based SIEM services to both enterprise and cloud-based networks, infrastructure and applications.
Release Date: October 29, 2012
SecaaS Category 9 // BCDR Implementation Guidance
When using the cloud for operational processes and/or production systems, an organization’s BC/DR requirements must be included in their procurement, planning, design, management, and monitoring of their cloud environments and cloud service providers.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 8 // Encryption Implementation Guidance
Encryption is a primary data (and application) protection technique. For encryption to be useful, encryption keys must be properly managed and protected. This document covers both the encryption and key management topics.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 6 // Intrusion Management Implementation Guidance
Because of the limited market maturity and lack of widely accepted best practices, this document provides implementation guidelines for cloud-based intrusion management service of multiple flavors—in the cloud, through the cloud, or from the cloud—focusing on the basic tenets of service and architecture rather than solutions.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 5 // Security Assessments Implementation Guidance
There are many choices for an assessment framework standard and there is no “one size fits all” solution for security assessments. One could reasonably expect that as cloud technology and governance evolves, a much smaller subset will emerge with a cloud focus.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 4 // Email Security Implementation Guidance
Due to its ubiquitous use, electronic mail is both the prime target of, and primary vehicle for, attacks, and must be protected on both ends: sending and receiving. Email service is a well defined utility in the enterprise, and securing email in the cloud is similar to securing email in the enterprise. Email Security as a Service (SecaaS) has a few unique aspects, but most responses entail differences of degree, rather than instituting new methods of security.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 3 // Web Security Implementation Guidance
The vendor and academic community have come together to form a set of solutions called Security as a Service. This document specifically addresses one element focused on Web Security as a Service (Web SecaaS).
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 2 // Data Loss Prevention Implementation Guidance
DLP must be considered an essential element for achieving an effective information security strategy for protecting data as it moves to, resides in and departs from the cloud. DLP has two facets: one as viewed from the owner’s perspective and one as viewed from the custodian’s perspective.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 10 // Network Security Implementation Guidance
In a cloud environment, a major part of network security is likely to be provided by virtual security devices and services, alongside traditional physical network devices. Tight integration with the underlying cloud software layer to ensure full visibility of all traffic on the virtual network layer is important.
Release Date: October 08, 2012
SecaaS Category 1 // Identity and Access Management Implementation Guidance
This document addresses personnel involved in the identification and implementation of the IAM solution in the cloud. It will be of particular interest to those with the responsibility of designing, implementing and integrating the consumption of services of the IAM function within any cloud application of SecaaS.
Release Date: September 26, 2012
Defined Categories of Service 2011
Release Date: October 26, 2011
Security as a Service News
February 12, 2013
CSA Announces Working Group Sessions at RSA in San Francisco
CSA is hosting sessions during the week for some of our active working groups. These are free events that will be held outside of the regular conference on Thursday, February 28th.
October 29, 2012
CSA Releases Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Guidance
New Security-as-a-Service Implementation Report provides guidance for deployment of cloud-based SIEM
October 09, 2012
Cloud Security Alliance Releases (SecaaS) Implementation Guidance
CSA today announced that its Security as a Service (SecaaS) Working Group has completed its peer review process and has published implementation guidance documents expanding upon their “Defined Categories of Service” document that was first made available in August of 2011.
September 26, 2012
CSA Security as a Service (SecaaS) Working Group Completes Implementation Guidance
New Identity and Access Management research provides business and technical considerations for implementation of SecaaS as part of the cloud.
July 18, 2012
CSA Research Sponsorship Opportunities Available
CSA announces the availability of several new opportunities to sponsor key research initiatives. Your support helps us maintain our aggressive research schedule and accelerate responsible adoption of cloud computing.
August 18, 2011
Open Review Period for the Draft of SecaaS Defined Categories of Service Whitepaper Starts Today
The Security as a Service (SecaaS) working group would like to invite you to review and comment on the Security as a Service “Defined Categories of Service” whitepaper. Your expertise will ensure that the white paper has accurate content.
June 30, 2011
Security as a Service Initial Group Call set for July 5th
The CSA Security as a Service (SecaaS) Working Group will have their first group call on July 5th. The purpose of their research will be to identify consensus definitions of what Security as a Service means, to categorize the different types of Security as a Service and to provide guidance to organizations on reasonable implementation practices.
June 21, 2011
SecaaS Seeks Additional Input on Working Group Proposal
Thank you to those who have contributed to the “Categories of Service” section of our working group proposal. We are still seeking input to all categories. For those who have recently expressed interest in getting involved, send me an email at [email protected] (Subject line: SecaaS Categories).
June 07, 2011
SecaaS Seeks Input on Working Group Proposal
The Cloud Security Alliance is now soliciting input for the Security as a Service (SecaaS) Working Group’s “Categories of Service” section of their working group proposal.
Security, Trust
& Assurance Registry
STAR is a free, publicly accessible registry that documents the security controls provided by various cloud computing offerings.
Welcome New Members
The CSA is a member-driven organization, chartered with promoting the use of best practices for providing security assurance within Cloud Computing. We would like to welcome our newest members:
Kronos- Palerra
- Inspur
- Battelle
- EMC
Translate CSA
Get Involved
Learn how you can participate in Cloud Security Alliance's goals to promote the use of best practices for providing security assurance within Cloud Computing.
