Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) (CS8527)

Cloud computing has been transforming the way the world conducts business for some time now. Organizations are rethinking their IT strategies and embracing the concepts and practices of cloud computing as a way to be competitive in today's global markets. In addition, the information security industry has begun to recognize the uniqueness of this specialized, new, disruptive force and the need for trained professionals with the right cloud security knowledge and skill sets.

The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) certification was developed by (ISC)² in partnership with the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) to satisfy the growing demand for trained and qualified cloud security professionals.

The CCSP (ISC)² Certified Cloud Security Professional course offers the cloud professional a solid foundation for taking and passing the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) exam. 

Module 1: Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design

• Understand Cloud Computing Concepts
• Cloud Computing Definitions
• Cloud Computing Roles and Responsibilities
• Key Cloud Computing Characteristics
• Building Block Technologies
• Describe Cloud Reference Architecture
• Cloud Computing Activities
• Cloud Service Capabilities
• Cloud Service Categories
• Cloud Deployment Models
• Cloud Shared Considerations
• Impact of Related Technologies
• Understand Security Concepts Relevant to Cloud Computing
• Cryptography and Key Management
• Identity and Access Control
• Data and Media Sanitization
• Network Security
• Virtualization Security
• Common Threats
• Security Hygiene
• Understand Design Principles of Secure Cloud Computing
• Cloud Secure Data Lifecycle
• Cloud-Based
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan
• Business Impact Analysis
• Functional Security Requirements
• Security Considerations for Different Cloud Categories
• Cloud Design Patterns
• DevOps Security
• Evaluate Cloud Service Providers
• Verification against Criteria
• System/Subsystem Product Certifications

Module 2: Cloud Data Security

• Describe Cloud Data Concepts
• Cloud Data Lifecycle Phases
• Data Dispersion
• Data Flows
• Design and Implement Cloud Data Storage Architectures
• Storage Types
• Threats to Storage Types
• Design and Apply Data Security Technologies and Strategies
• Encryption and Key Management
• Hashing
• Data Obfuscation
• Tokenization
• Data Loss Prevention
• Keys, Secrets, and Certificates Management
• Implement Data Discovery
• Structured Data
• Unstructured Data
• Semi-structured
• Data
• Data Location
• Implement Data Classification
• Data Classification Policies
• Mapping
• Labeling
• Design and Implement Information Rights Management
• Objectives
• Appropriate Tools
• Plan and Implement Data Retention, Deletion, and Archiving Policies
• Data Retention Policies
• Data Deletion Procedures and Mechanisms
• Data Archiving Procedures and Mechanisms
• Legal Hold
• Design and Implement Auditability, Traceability, and Accountability of Data Events
• Definition of Event Sources and Requirement of Event Attribution
• Logging, Storage, and Analysis of Data Events
• Chain of Custody and Nonrepudiation

Module 3: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security

• Comprehend Cloud Infrastructure and Platform Components
• Physical Environment
• Network and Communications
• Compute
• Virtualization
• Storage
• Management Plane
• Design a Secure Data Center
• Logical Design
• Physical Design
• Environmental Design
• Analyze Risks Associated with Cloud Infrastructure and Platforms
• Risk Assessment
• Cloud Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Attacks
• Risk Mitigation Strategies
• Plan and Implementation of Security Controls
• Physical and Environmental Protection
• System, Storage, and Communication Protection
• Identification, Authentication, and Authorization in Cloud Environments
• Audit Mechanisms
• Plan Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
• Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Strategy
• Business Requirements
• Creation, Implementation, and Testing of Plan

Module 4: Cloud Application Security

• Advocate Training and Awareness for Application Security
• Cloud Development Basics
• Common Pitfalls
• Common Cloud Vulnerabilities
• Describe the Secure Software Development Life Cycle Process
• NIST Secure Software Development Framework
• OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model
• Business Requirements
• Phases and Methodologies
• Apply the Secure Software Development Life Cycle
• Cloud-Specific Risks
• Threat Modeling
• Avoid Common Vulnerabilities during Development
• Secure Coding
• Software Configuration Management and Versioning
• Apply Cloud Software Assurance and Validation
• Functional and Non-functional Testing
• Security Testing Methodologies
• Quality Assurance
• Abuse Case Testing
• Use Verified Secure Software
• Securing Application Programming Interfaces
• Supply-Chain Management
• Third-Party Software Management
• Validated Open-Source Software
• Comprehend the Specifics of Cloud Application Architecture
• Supplemental Security Components
• Cryptography
• Sandboxing
• Application Virtualization and Orchestration
• Design Appropriate Identity and Access Management Solutions
• Federated Identity
• Identity Providers
• Single Sign-on
• Multifactor Authentication
• Cloud Access Security Broker

Module 5: Cloud Security Operations

• Build and Implement Physical and Logical Infrastructure for Cloud Environment
• Hardware-Specific Security Configuration Requirements
• Installation and Configuration of Virtualization Management Tools
• Virtual Hardware–Specific Security Configuration Requirements
• Installation of Guest Operating System Virtualization Toolsets
• Operate Physical and Logical Infrastructure for Cloud Environment
• Configure Access Control for Local and Remote Access
• Secure Network Configuration
• Operating System Hardening through the Application of Baselines
• Availability of Stand-Alone Hosts
• Availability of Clustered Hosts
• Availability of Guest Operating Systems
• Manage Physical and Logical Infrastructure for Cloud Environment
• Access Controls for Remote Access
• Operating System Baseline Compliance Monitoring and Remediation
• Patch Management
• Performance and Capacity Monitoring
• Hardware Monitoring
• Configuration of Host and Guest Operating System Backup and Restore Functions
• Network Security Controls
• Management Plane
• Implement Operational Controls and Standards
• Change Management
• Continuity Management
• Information Security Management
• Continual Service Improvement Management
• Incident Management
• Problem Management
• Release Management
• Deployment Management
• Configuration Management
• Service Level Management
• Availability Management
• Capacity Management
• Support Digital Forensics
• Forensic Data Collection Methodologies
• Evidence Management
• Collect, Acquire, and Preserve Digital Evidence
• Manage Communication with Relevant Parties
• Vendors
• Customers
• Partners
• Regulators
• Other Stakeholders
• Manage Security Operations
• Security Operations Center
• Monitoring of Security Controls
• Log Capture and Analysis
• Incident Management

Module 6: Legal, Risk, and Compliance

• Articulating Legal Requirements and Unique Risks within the Cloud Environment
• Conflicting International Legislation
• Evaluation of Legal Risks Specific to Cloud Computing
• Legal Frameworks and Guidelines
• eDiscovery
• Forensics Requirements
• Understand Privacy Issues
• Difference between Contractual and Regulated Private Data
• Country-Specific Legislation Related to Private Data
• Jurisdictional Differences in Data Privacy
• Standard Privacy Requirements
• Privacy Impact Assessments
• Understanding Audit Process, Methodologies, and Required Adaptations for a Cloud Environment
• Internal and External Audit Controls
• Impact of Audit Requirements
• Identify Assurance Challenges of Virtualization and Cloud
• Types of Audit Reports
• Restrictions of Audit Scope Statements
• Gap Analysis
• Audit Planning
• Internal Information Security Management System
• Internal Information Security Controls System
• Policies
• Identification and Involvement of Relevant Stakeholders
• Specialized Compliance Requirements for Highly Regulated Industries
• Impact of Distributed Information Technology Model
• Understand Implications of Cloud to Enterprise Risk Management
• Assess Providers Risk Management Programs
• Differences between Data Owner/Controller vs. Data Custodian/Processor
• Regulatory Transparency Requirements
• Risk Treatment
• Risk Frameworks
• Metrics for Risk Management
• Assessment of Risk Environment
• Understand Outsourcing and Cloud Contract Design
• Business Requirements
• Vendor Management
• Contract Management
• Supply Chain Management