What is the CSA CAIQ?
The Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) is a standardized questionnaire developed by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). It captures a cloud provider's security controls across a wide range of domains, enabling customers to assess risk quickly and compare providers.
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Why the CAIQ Matters
Cloud customers need a common language to evaluate security practices. CAIQ provides a repeatable, vendor-neutral framework that aligns with industry regulations such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR. By answering CAIQ questions, providers demonstrate transparency, and customers can map responses to their own compliance requirements.
Structure of the CAIQ
CAIQ is organized into 14 categories, each containing a set of questions. A typical CAIQ section looks like this:
| Category | Question |
|---|---|
| Identity & Access Management | Does the provider support multi‑factor authentication for all privileged accounts? |
| Data Security | Is data encrypted at rest using FIPS‑140‑2 validated modules? |
Answers are coded as Yes, No, Not Applicable, or Not Available. Providers can submit completed CAIQs via the CSA portal, and customers can download them for review.
Using CAIQ for Risk Assessment
Customers can adopt a simple scoring model:
- Assign a weight to each category based on risk appetite.
- Multiply the weight by the proportion of "Yes" responses.
- Aggregate scores to identify high‑risk areas.
Because CAIQ answers are public, they also support market comparison and due diligence.
Limitations and Best Practices
CAIQ does not replace a full audit. It is a high‑level snapshot; deeper controls may require supplemental questionnaires or on‑site reviews. Best practices include:
- Validate CAIQ answers against independent evidence.
- Update the CAIQ annually to reflect changes in architecture.
- Use CAIQ in conjunction with the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix for comprehensive coverage.