Mastering Cloud Auditing

As organizations increasingly migrate to cloud and multi-cloud infrastructures, cloud auditing has emerged as a critical discipline that bridges traditional compliance expectations with the complex, dynamic nature of cloud services. Unlike conventional IT audits, cloud auditing requires a specialized understanding of virtualized resources, shared responsibility models, regulatory landscapes, and automated infrastructures.

This book is a comprehensive guide to auditing in cloud environments, designed to provide readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of cloud computing environments. This book systematically builds your knowledge, starting with core auditing principles and cloud models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, then tackling strategic issues like the shared responsibility model and establishing GRC frameworks. You will also learn essential compliance through specific discussions on GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS, and learn to apply global standards from NIST, ISO/IEC 27017, and the CSA CCM. The book delivers practical application by guiding you through auditing technical controls for cloud infrastructure, IAM, and data privacy, culminating in best practices for cloud service provider assessment and leveraging automation to manage emerging trends like Zero Trust architectures.

By the end of this book, the reader will be able to confidently apply the knowledge and skills gained and assess the cloud control, including security and privacy, allowing them to independently and effectively audit the cloud environments.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
● Gain a comprehensive understanding of auditing principles and cloud computing fundamentals.
● Identify and analyze the key challenges faced by cloud auditors.
● Explore the role of auditors in the implementation of cloud governance, risk, and compliance.
● Develop knowledge of relevant cloud regulations, standards, and frameworks.
● Learn methodologies for auditing cloud infrastructure.
● Examine approaches to auditing cloud security, governance, and privacy practices.
● Assess the auditing processes of cloud service providers.
● Understand the role of automation in cloud auditing.
● Explore emerging trends and future directions in cloud auditing.

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
This book is intended for internal and external auditors or assessors, regulators, compliance officers, IT and cybersecurity professionals, cloud computing experts, and procurement specialists. It is also meant for professionals from cloud service providers and cloud service tenants, who possess foundational knowledge of auditing processes and basic cloud architecture.

1. Introduction to Auditing
2. Fundamentals of Cloud Computing
3. Challenges in Cloud Auditing
4. GRC in Cloud
5. Common Cloud Regulations
6. NIST Cloud Computing Standards
7. ISO/IEC 27017 and ISO/IEC 27018
8. CSA – CCM and STAR Program
9. Auditing Cloud Infrastructure
10. Auditing Cloud Security
11. Auditing Cloud Governance and Privacy
12. Auditing Cloud Service Providers
13. Automating Cloud Auditing
14. Emerging Trends in Cloud Auditing

Venkata Ramana Krothapalli (CISA, CISSP, CCSK, CCZT, PMP, P3O, ITIL) is a seasoned information security professional with more than 3 decades of experience in different industries, across various geographies, performing diverse roles such as consultant, auditor, CISO, trainer, speaker. He is passionate about information security and skilled in balancing between business needs and information security requirements and has helped various organizations through creating and implementing effective security strategies that are effective in protecting the organizations’ information.

He is keen in volunteering and associated with professional bodies such as ISACA, ISC2, TRECERT in various activities including representing the boards of local chapters, journal reviewer, exam developer, providing training to membership etc. and he is a recipient of ‘Special Recognition Award’ from CISO platform and a finalist in the category of ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from Disaster Recovery Institute.

Ramana holds a master’s degree in resources development technology and PG diploma in computer applications from Andhra University.