CSA Releases Comprehensive EATO Framework to Address Security Challenges for Small Cloud Providers

Written by Jim Reavis, CEO, CSA.

Small and mid-sized cloud service providers often face significant challenges when attempting to meet the rigorous security and compliance requirements set by their enterprise customers, especially those operating within highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, energy, and the public sector. These providers struggle with resource constraints, duplicated security assessments, inconsistent control implementation, and significant compliance costs.

To directly address these pain points, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) proudly introduces the Enterprise Authority to Operate (EATO) initiative, which includes two comprehensive resources:

EATO Controls Framework: Derived from CSA’s robust Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) v4, the EATO Controls Framework presents enhanced, detailed, and specifically tailored controls designed to fulfill stringent regulatory compliance. Notable enhancements include:

• Temporary Privileged Access Management (TPAM): Ensures privileged access roles are strictly temporary, ticket-based, automatically revoked, and supported by robust segregation of duties.
• Enhanced Encryption Controls: Strengthened standards for data encryption, including customer-specific keys managed securely within Hardware Security Modules (HSM).
• Cross-Border Access Controls: Tight controls to prevent unauthorized cross-border data access, ensuring strict compliance with data sovereignty requirements.

EATO Auditing Guidelines: The EATO Auditing Guidelines provide auditors with explicit and rigorous procedures to validate and assess security controls. These guidelines set precise expectations for evidence collection, validation processes, and detailed documentation reviews. For instance:

• Audit Evidence Requirements: Detailed scrutiny of control implementation documentation, ensuring precise adherence to EATO requirements such as automated expiry of privileged access permissions and robust segregation of duties.
• Remediation and Re-Audit Procedures: Clear instructions on remediation actions required, accompanied by guidance from certified consultants and a structured process for re-auditing to ensure effective implementation of control improvements.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated volunteers, and particularly thank Rolf Becker, EATO Working Group Chair, for his visionary leadership and tireless dedication to advancing cloud security standards.

We strongly encourage your feedback to help refine these critical deliverables. Your insights are crucial for enhancing their effectiveness and practicality. If you are interested in providing feedback on the EATO framework and guidelines and/or volunteering to go through the EATO Assessment process, please fill out this form. Key industries we’re looking for include the public sector, banking, healthcare, and energy. 

Together, we are shaping the future of secure cloud adoption.