Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) is a consistent tool that use to compare multiple vendors of a multi-tenant solution. Also, it is a security assessment provided by the Cloud Security Alliance.
Who Created The Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ)?
The Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) was created by the Cloud Security Alliance Initiative or CAI. They perform research and creates tools that are needed.
Also, it forms industry partnerships that enable cloud computing assessments. The goal here is to create an industry-acceptable document.
They also want to create an outline for security controls that also exist in cloud services. Such as software as a service, platform as a service, and infrastructure as a service.
So What Is The Purpose Of CAIQ?
It is to address one of the leading concerns about firms when moving in clouds. For example, the lack of transparency into cloud providers.
Moreover, firms want to know about the technologies and tactics that are implemented. Also the relative to data protection and risk management.
So the goal of the CAIQ is to create more acceptable industry standards. It can be made using the standard questionnaire.
By implying the CAIQ, the vendor can reduce costs from unnecessary cybersecurity risk. Moreover, the firm can assure to have more efficient cybersecurity.
And also, the cloud providers itself is using the CAIQ. Why? For them to outline their security capabilities and security-posture.
The CAIQ provides a YES or NO control attestation questions. Also, the CAIQ can be customize to fit a firm’s needs and use cases.
Lastly, it is use alongside with the CSA’s Security Guidance for Critical Areas focus on Cloud computing and Cloud Controls Matrix.
The Security Guidance For Critical Areas Focus In Cloud Computing
It is design to provide guidance and inspiration to firms. The firms, who need to manage and mitigate the risk with the adoption of cloud computing technology.
And it covers up to 14 domains.
Cloud Controls Matrix
It is a cybersecurity control framework for cloud computing. Also, it is composed of 133 controls objectives structured.
The Cloud Control Matrix has 16 domains. All domains are covered by all key aspects of cloud technology.
How Is The CAIQ Different From Other Vendor Risk Assessment Questionnaires?
The CAIQ has a specific area to assess the risk, which is the third-party-vendor. The specific area namely Iaas, Paas, and Saas providers.
However, the other vendor risk assessment is more general in nature and industry-specific.
So Why We Should Consider Using CAIQ?
Here are some benefits of using CAIQ with Security Ratings.
- They automatically generated.
- Updated Frequently.
- It also provides a common language for technical and non-technical.
- Security Ratings and CAIQ assures accurate results.
- Externally verifiable and always up-to-date.
- It is provided by an independent organization.
Conclusion
We learn about the importance of The Consensus Assessment Initiative Questionaire (CAIQ).
How they offer transparency in evaluating cloud provider security controls.
Furthermore, both the vendor and the cloud provider benefited from this standard. By the security posture or prospect cloud service.
