What Is a CryptoCurrency Security Standard Auditor (CCSSA)?

Where there are financial services, there's risk — and with the intricacies of digital assets, we need to work diligently to assess the security of these cryptocurrency systems. That's where CCSSAs come in, turning the tide against threats with their arsenal of security savvy and CCSS know-how.

The CryptoCurrency Security Standard, developed by the CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium (C4), outlines comprehensive security requirements for systems utilizing cryptocurrencies, including but not limited to exchanges, custodians and wallets.A CryptoCurrency Security Standard Auditor, also known as a CCSSA, is an individual proficient in evaluating and assessing compliance with the CryptoCurrency Security Standard (CCSS). CCSSAs are able to apply the CCSS standard to any information system that uses cryptocurrencies, calculating a grade for the system according to the CCSS.

CCSSAs have proven their professional working knowledge in all 31 aspect controls of the CryptoCurrency Security Standard (CCSS).

Key responsibilities of a CCSSA include:

1. Assessment: Conducting thorough evaluations of information systems to ensure they meet the CCSS requirements.
2. Compliance Verification: Verifying that crypto asset management systems, processes, and personnel align with CCSS guidelines.
3. Risk Mitigation: Identifying and addressing potential security risks and vulnerabilities with a cryptocurrency infrastructure’s key management systems.
4. Reporting: Providing detailed reports and recommendations for enhancing security posture based on CCSS assessments.

CCSSAs often have to assess information systems which may have novel or unique processes, and auditors have to consider compliance to the Standard in a holistic manner which takes into account the implementation details of the information system and its ability to achieve its intended outcomes.

Once hired by an entity, CCSSAs assess if the CCSS requirements have been met - meaning the scope is defined correctly, the required security controls are correctly implemented, working as intended, and meeting the CCSS requirements for that control.

All CCSS audits cover the 12 months prior to audit completion and will test the operating effectiveness of the control over this period of time. Audits are designed to be performed at least annually. All audits performed by CCSSAs are reviewed by a CCSSA-Peer Reviewer before C4 certifies an entity. 

The entire CCSS audit process is carefully designed to increase the confidence of those utilizing cryptocurrency systems, and CCSSAs are bridging the gaps between this cutting-edge blockchain technology and ironclad security. 

You can learn how to become a CCSSA here. If you’re interested in having your cryptocurrency system assessed and or audited, you can find a list of current CCSSAs here: Auditor's Table

If you’re not quite ready to make the leap toward an audit, you can take C4’s CCSS Level 1 requirements training course to learn more about what the audit process entails here: Master CCSS Level 1 

If you’d like to see what systems have been audited, you can view completed audits here: Completed CCSS Audits

Or head over to cryptoconsortium.org to learn all about C4’s CryptoCurrency Security Standard!