How to Attain CSA STAR Certification: A Simple How-To

Cloud services have become an indispensable component of corporate environments and serve multiple purposes. 

Companies deploy a combination of services like Box for data storage, Microsoft 365 for productivity tools, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud and IT infrastructure. These cloud services allow organizations to fulfill their needs by enabling agility and operating at a controlled, if not lower cost.

The rapid adoption of cloud-based technology also brought a sharp increase in cloud-based cyberattacks. Cisco reports that cyber fatigue—apathy toward proactively defending against cyberattacks—affects as much as 42% of companies. 

This surge in cyber threats makes it crucial for businesses to stay updated and implement the latest cloud security best practices. But how do you keep up with this constantly evolving landscape?

A CSA STAR Certification is a handy and useful way of doing so. A cloud service provider with this certification assures its customers that it adheres to industry-leading best practices in securing data and cloud applications. 

In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the CSA STAR certification requirements and how to get certified fast.

TL;DR

CSA STAR offers three levels of assurance—Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

CSA STAR Certification involves a comprehensive third-party assessment based on ISO 27001 and the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix, while CSA STAR Attestation relies on the SOC 2 framework.

Any cloud service provider or customer can opt for a CSA STAR certification. It is designed for a wide range of cloud services.

What is CSA STAR Certification?

The CSA STAR Certification is a comprehensive, third-party assessment of a cloud service provider’s security practices. Developed by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and the British Standards Institution (BSI), it combines requirements of the ISO  27001 standard with the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM). 

Implementing a CSA STAR Certification alongside a compliant ISO 27001 information security management system can help you gain a close understanding of associated risks and business impacts. 

Here, STAR stands for The Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk (STAR) Registry. It is a publicly accessible database that documents the security and privacy controls offered by popular cloud computing services.

This certification combines the requirements of the ISO 27001 management system standard with the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix. 

CSA STAR is built on two fundamental components from the CSA GRC Stack:

• Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM): This is a controls framework that covers essential security principles across 16 domains. It helps cloud customers evaluate the overall security risk of a Cloud Service Provider (CSP).
• Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ): This includes over 140 questions based on the CCM that customers or auditors can use to assess a CSP’s compliance with CSA best practices.

Certifications included under the STAR Program

The STAR program offers three levels of assurance:

1. Level 1: CSA-STAR Self-Assessment, which is free and open to all CSPs.
2. Level 2: Involves certifications based on third-party assessments.
3. Level 3: Involves certifications based on continuous monitoring.

CSA STAR attestation Vs. CSA STAR certification

The CSA offers two prominent programs: CSA STAR certification and CSA STAR attestation. Here are the differences between the two and how it works

Criteria	STAR Attestation: For SOC 2	STAR Certification: For ISO 27001:2013
Meaning	The CSA STAR Program also offers the STAR Attestation, an independent third-party assessment of your security practices. Instead of using the ISO framework, the STAR Attestation relies on the SOC 2 framework and the CCM.	Getting a CSA STAR Certificate involves a thorough assessment by an independent third party. This assessment combines the requirements of the ISO 27001 management system standard with the CSA CCM version 4.0.
Process	New to SOC 2: If you’re just starting with SOC 2, you can include the STAR Attestation during your SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2 journey. However, you can only maintain the STAR Attestation with a Type 1 for one year; you must obtain a Type 2 within that time. Already have SOC 2: If you have obtained a SOC 2 attestation, you can pursue a STAR attestation during your Type 2 renewal.	This certification must be obtained during your initial ISO 27001 certification audit and cannot be pursued during a surveillance audit.
Outcome	In both scenarios, you’ll receive a SOC 2 report indicating that you’ve implemented the CCM controls. Afterward, you’ll apply to the STAR registry to list your organization.	After obtaining your certification, you’ll apply to the STAR registry to list your organization.
Validity	Attestation listings expire after one year unless updated	Certification certificates follow the standard ISO 27001 protocol and expire after three years unless updated.

How can you secure a CSA STAR certification?

CSA STAR follows an open certification framework with multiple levels of assurance based on your company’s risk assessment. Each level has different requirements, providing a tailored approach to certification.

Building on that, the STAR Program offers three levels of assurance:

Level 1: CSA-STAR Self-Assessment

A Level 1 certification is an easy way for any Cloud Service Provider (CSP) to offer their customers the security assurances that come with a STAR certification. 

To achieve a Level 1 certification, CSPs must self-assess their security practices and controls against the CSA’s best practices, using CAIQ or the CCM. They then submit their assessment to CSA for verification.

Who should ideally pursue the level one assurance? You need to consider it if you are:

• Scenario 1: Operating in a low-risk environment
• Scenario 2: Seeking to provide greater transparency around their security controls
• Scenario 3: Looking for a cost-effective way to enhance trust and transparency

Takeaway: For this self-assessment, you will complete the CAIQ V4.0, which is based on the controls of the CCM.

Level 2: Third-Party Audit

CSA STAR Level 2 provides greater transparency and assurance than Level 1 by requiring a third-party audit of a CSP’s security controls. This audit must be conducted by a CSA-certified third party for an independent and thorough assessment.

Level 2 allows organizations to build upon industry certifications and standards, tailoring them for the cloud. This means the CSA STAR audit can be combined with SOC 2 and ISO 27001 audits, considering the CCM.

Factors such as the organization’s location, applicable regulations, and standards will influence which certifications to pursue.

Now, who should ideally pursue the level two assurance? 

You should pursue Level 2 if you:

• Scenario 1: Operate in a medium to high-risk environment
• Scenario 2: Already hold or adhere to standards like ISO 27001, SOC 2, GB/T 22080-2008, or GDPR
• Scenario 3: Seek a cost-effective way to enhance assurance of cloud security and privacy

Note: Achieving Level 2 requires completing the Level 1 self-assessment first.

Level 3: Continuous Monitoring

CSA STAR Level 3 focuses on continuous monitoring, requiring organizations to monitor and validate their controls consistently. 

This approach eliminates the gaps associated with “point in time” audits, providing the most up-to-date status of a CSP’s security compliance. 

You can pursue Level 3 under the following circumstances:

• Scenario 1: Operate in high-risk environments
• Scenario 2: Are full-service providers
• Scenario 3: Require the highest level of transparency in their cloud security controls.

Note: Achieving Level 3 results in a certification. 

Want to achieve the Level 3 certification faster and quicker? 

A GRC automation software like Sprinto speeds up the process significantly.

Sprinto harmonizes controls, processes, and evidence on a single platform, providing a systematic and flexible way to implement and monitor controls. With Sprinto, you can efficiently and continuously oversee asset-level controls, configurations, and compliance programs. 

This ensures quality control management and a clear, connected view of frameworks, controls, and assets.

Sprinto’s automation transforms compliance from a sporadic activity to a continuous one. 

By breaking down silos, it centralizes control mapping, automates control tests, collects evidence, and accelerates your journey toward compliance and audit goals, achieving in days what might otherwise take months.

To see this in action, see how Fresha operationalized compliance using Sprinto.

Who benefits from STAR certification?

Any cloud service provider or cloud service customer can opt for a CSA STAR certification. It is designed for a wide range of cloud services, including  Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers. It also applies to managed security service providers and other cloud-related services.

The types of organizations eligible are:

CSP: A cloud service provider is a company that offers any component of cloud computing—be it IaaS, SaaS, or PaaS—to other businesses or individuals. This definition is broad, including any service hosted on the cloud.

Cloud Service Customer (CSC): If you use any form of cloud service to provide your offerings to your customers, you are a cloud service customer. This includes those who use cloud infrastructure provider services or any service hosted on the cloud.

Cost of CSA STAR Certification

The entire process involves two levels of costs. Audit Costs – Payable to the auditor. Typically ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the employee count of your organization. The STAR Fee is payable to the STAR Registry at the time of submission.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the cost of STAR certification:

Certificate Pricing
Number of employees	Price (in Euro)
1 to 10	€600
11 to 25	€1,200
26 to 75	€2,100
76 to 250	€3,600
251 to 700	€6,000
701 to 1500	€8,400
1501+	€12,000

Attestation Pricing
Number of employees	Price (in USD)
1 to 10	$650
11 to 25	$1,300
26 to 75	$2,300
76 to 250	$4,050
251 to 700	$6,650
701 to 1500	$9,350
1501+	$13,300

Certification Validity Period

• STAR Level 1 Self-Assessments are valid for one year.
• STAR Level 2 Certifications are valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits and recertification in the third year.
• STAR Level 3 Attestations are valid for one year and require a complete re-evaluation at the end of each year.

Elevate your cloud security with Sprinto

Did you know the average cost of a data breach in 2023 hit USD 4.45 million? That’s a staggering 15% increase over the past three years. 

To reduce this risk, both cloud service providers and their customers must follow the CSA’s STAR Program or partner with a STAR-certified service provider. Sprinto makes the process quick and painless.

Here’s how Sprinto can help you strengthen your cloud security:

• Swift STAR Certification or Attestation: With Sprinto, you can achieve STAR certification or attestation in record time.
• Smart automation: Integrations and API accurately map and monitor assets and related controls.
• Strict access control: Enforce least privilege access to assets and controls, maintaining the integrity of practices.
• Evidence collection: Automatically gather high-quality, time-stamped evidence with accuracy.
• Proactive alerts: Get context-rich, time-bound alerts to resolve control failures and prevent compliance drift quickly.
• Comprehensive support: Access various services, including pen testing partners, ASVs, and auditors.
• Dedicated auditor portal: Simplify internal and external evidence reviews with a dedicated auditor management portal.