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Cloud Computing · Intermediate

Cloud Auditor

Independent party that assesses cloud services for security controls, privacy impact, performance and compliance.

Definition

In the NIST cloud reference architecture, a cloud auditor conducts independent examinations of cloud service controls and expresses an opinion on them. Auditors produce attestations such as SOC 2 reports, ISO certifications and FedRAMP assessments that customers rely on.

Example

A third-party assessment organization (3PAO) evaluates a SaaS provider for FedRAMP authorization.

Exam tip

Questions about how customers gain assurance without accessing provider data centers usually point to independent audit reports.

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