Green Shield · Governance

CSA STAR Cloud Security Assurance

Give cloud customers the assurance they ask for. We prepare your cloud service for the Cloud Security Alliance STAR programme, from the self-assessment to third-party certification.

What CSA STAR Is

The Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) programme from the Cloud Security Alliance is a public registry of cloud security assurance. It is built on the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM), a control framework for cloud computing, and the Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ).

STAR has levels: a self-assessment published to the registry, and third-party audits such as STAR Certification, which builds on ISO/IEC 27001. Many enterprise customers check the STAR registry when choosing cloud providers.

Who Needs This

  • SaaS and cloud providers selling to enterprise customers.
  • Providers answering long security questionnaires from every new client.
  • Organizations aligning cloud services with the NCA Cloud Cybersecurity Controls.

Our Methodology

Every engagement follows the Cyber Shields rhythm: Assess, Protect, Monitor. For this engagement, that translates into the following steps.

  1. Scope. Under a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement, we agree the cloud services and the STAR level you are aiming for.
  2. CCM gap assessment. We assess your service against the Cloud Controls Matrix.
  3. CAIQ. We help you complete the questionnaire accurately, with evidence behind each answer.
  4. Remediation. A prioritized plan for gaps found.
  5. Certification readiness. For third-party levels, we prepare you for the audit.

What You Receive

  • CCM gap assessment with findings.
  • Completed CAIQ ready for the STAR registry.
  • Remediation plan.
  • Certification readiness plan for third-party levels.
  • Readout session with your team, in Arabic and English.

Standards & References

Findings are anchored to recognized frameworks so they are defensible and cross-mappable.

  • CSA STAR
  • CSA CCM
  • CAIQ
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • NCA CCC

Official Sources and References

The documents behind this page, linked at the publisher. Where a Saudi regulation is published in both languages, the Arabic text is the binding version.

Engagement & Investment

Every engagement is scoped individually. Pricing depends on the size and complexity of your environment, the systems or controls in scope, and the timeline you need to work to. Rather than publish figures that rarely fit a specific situation, we prepare a written proposal with a clear fee and schedule once your scope is understood.

Tell us about your organization and the deadline you are working toward, and we will return a tailored proposal within five business days, following a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which STAR level should we start with?

Most providers start with the self-assessment, then move to third-party certification as customer demand grows.

Does STAR help with security questionnaires?

Yes. A published CAIQ answers many standard questions up front.

Do you issue the certificate?

No. Certificates are issued by accredited certification bodies. We prepare you so that the certification audit goes smoothly, and we can help you choose a certification body.

Will the report be available in Arabic?

Yes. Reports, the executive summary, and the readout session are available in both Arabic and English at no additional cost.

Related Services

Often Engaged Alongside

ISO/IEC 27017 & 27018

Cloud security and cloud privacy controls on top of ISO/IEC 27001.

Learn more

NCA CCC

Cloud Cybersecurity Controls for cloud service providers and tenants, extending your ECC posture into the cloud.

Learn more

ISO/IEC 27001

Implementation and certification readiness for an Information Security Management System recognised by partners and clients worldwide.

Learn more
From the blog

Related Articles

NCA CCC

NCA Cloud Cybersecurity Controls (CCC-2:2024): What Changed and How to Prepare

Who the CCC applies to, what changed in 2024, and how cloud tenants and providers prepare.

Read the article

Request a Proposal for CSA STAR

Tell us about your cloud service and we will return a written proposal within five business days. NDA first, always.