Industry Leadership
Strategic Initiatives
CSA's strategic programs driving innovation in AI, cloud, and Zero Trust.
A public-interest 501(c)(3) dedicated to secure and trustworthy AI.




Industry Leadership
Strategic Initiatives
CSA's strategic programs driving innovation in AI, cloud, and Zero Trust.
A public-interest 501(c)(3) dedicated to secure and trustworthy AI.

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Cloud Security Assurance

Demonstrate Trusted Cloud Security With STAR

Show that your cloud services meet recognized security best practices through the industry's leading cloud assurance program.

STAR

STAR cloud security assurance
The program

What is STAR?

STAR is CSA’s assurance program for cloud services. It gives organizations a recognized way to document and demonstrate how their cloud services meet security best practices, using the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) as the common framework and the STAR Registry as the public record.

Because customers, procurement teams, and regulators increasingly expect evidence of cloud security rather than assertions, STAR serves cloud service providers at any size and stage of maturity, whether they are publishing a first self-assessment or extending an existing ISO/IEC 27001 certification or SOC 2 report with cloud-specific assurance.


Benefits

Why Choose STAR?

Discover how STAR helps organizations build trust, streamline customer assurance, and differentiate themselves in a competitive cloud market.

Select the benefit that matters most to your organization to see a suggested starting point.

Suggested starting point

STAR Level 1: Self-Assessment

A published CAIQ documents your security controls and demonstrates transparency without a third-party audit.


Compare paths

Choose Your Level of Assurance

Explore the level of assurance that best matches your organization's maturity, customer expectations, and business objectives.

ProgramLevelFull nameThird-party audit standardsCSA submission neededDetails
Prerequisites

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What it solves

Documents security controls and demonstrates transparency without a third-party audit.

You receive

STAR Registry listing; STAR Level 1 badge

Get Listed with this path →

The journey

Getting Listed on the STAR Registry

See how your organization moves from preparing for assessment to demonstrating cloud security assurance in the STAR Registry.

Step 1 of 5

Prepare

Review the CCM, determine the appropriate assurance level, and gather the information needed for your assessment.

Prepare illustration

For evaluators

How Organizations Use STAR

Customers and risk teams can use STAR Registry listings and assessments to evaluate providers, support third-party risk management, streamline procurement, and inform compliance decisions.

Third-Party Risk Management

Use STAR listings and assessment information to evaluate a provider’s security posture and identify areas that may require additional review.

Procurement & Vendor Due Diligence

Incorporate STAR assurance into vendor selection and onboarding to reduce duplicate security reviews and make provider comparisons more consistent.

Supply Chain Risk

Use published assurance information to better understand security responsibilities and risks across cloud and AI service relationships.

Compliance & Assurance Reuse

Leverage STAR controls, mappings, and third-party assurance information to support broader compliance activities and identify where existing assurance may satisfy overlapping requirements.

Ready for assurance?

Ready to demonstrate cloud security assurance?

Choose your program and assurance level, then follow the submission path for your route.


Toolkit

What’s Included?

Explore the frameworks, assessments, and supporting resources that make up STAR.

CCM

Cloud Controls Matrix — the framework behind every STAR cloud assessment.Download →

CAIQ

The questionnaire you complete and submit for your STAR assessment.Download →

STAR Prep Kit

Free preparation materials for your first submission.Download →

STAR Registry

The public registry of listed organizations and their assurance.Search the Registry →

Training & Education

Courses and credentials that support STAR Program participation.View courses →

Explore STAR Program Resources

Frameworks, submission guides, prep kits, and FAQs in one library.Browse resources →