New Cloud Security Alliance Certification Program Equips Professionals With Skills to Ensure Responsible and Safe Development and Management of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Partnership with Northeastern University to deliver critical education for the future of IT and cybersecurity

SAN FRANCISCO (RSA Conference) and SEATTLE – April 28, 2025 – The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, has partnered with Northeastern University to develop the Trusted AI Safety Knowledge & Certification Program. This program is designed to equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure the safe, secure, and responsible development, deployment, and management of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.

Whether students are looking to obtain an initial certificate of knowledge or professional certification, the Trusted AI Safety Knowledge will provide avenues to both through a robust training program organized into a series of modules, each focusing on a specific aspect of AI safety, security, or responsibility, and followed by an exam. Specifically, the program covers such topics as ethical considerations, data governance, regulatory implications, cybersecurity, risk assessment, and the implementation of safety measures, providing insights into AI safety principles, risk mitigation strategies, and best practices. 

“The dramatic rise of AI use across all business sectors is driving an equally dramatic shift in workforce skills, with companies increasingly seeking professionals with expertise in data analysis, data governance, AI technologies, and the ability to integrate AI into various processes,” said Jim Reavis, CEO and co-founder, Cloud Security Alliance. "With 16 years of thought leadership, innovation, and global expertise, CSA is uniquely positioned to develop an AI professional certification program. Building on the success of programs like the AI Safety Initiative, we are committed to equipping professionals with the skills they need to responsibly and securely develop, deploy, and manage AI systems in an evolving landscape. We’re looking forward to advancing additional opportunities for professional development with Northeastern University.”

The self-paced coursework is designed and developed with the Northeastern University Institute of Experiential AI, with leading experts in responsible AI, and the Experiential Digital Global Education (EDGE) team, known for its cutting edge, industry-facing online learning programs. Available in the market later this year, the certification course and exam are tailored to industry learners to ensure that AI safety officers, security architects, data scientists, developers, practitioners, auditors, and governance, risk, and compliance professionals, across the organization, gain the competencies necessary to confidently perform their jobs and innovate in the age of AI.

“We have a long history of developing talent to accelerate innovation with industry. We are excited to partner with CSA in advancing AI safety technical skills, knowledge, and training for the AI-driven workforce. We look forward to educating and supporting industry leaders, enterprises, and cloud service providers to produce the responsible AI solutions the world needs,” said Ken Henderson, Chancellor and Senior Vice President for Learning, Northeastern University.

Interested in learning more about the Trusted AI Safety Knowledge Certification Program? Stop by the CSA booth at RSA (Booth S-3400 ) or register for the AI Safety Primer: Inside the Trusted AI Certification by CSA and Northeastern University webinar on May 13. Or, sign up to be a Beta tester and gain early access to the training modules as they are developed—indicate your interest and join the initiative today. 

About Northeastern University 
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a global research university with an R1 Carnegie classification, and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Northeastern’s global university system includes 13 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, and serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. Students study, conduct research, and work on co-op in 149 countries and on all continents. The university has 300,000-plus alumni and more than 3,500 industry partners worldwide.

About Cloud Security Alliance
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining and raising awareness of best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. CSA harnesses the subject matter expertise of industry practitioners, associations, governments, and its corporate and individual members to offer cloud security-specific research, education, training, certification, events, and products. CSA's activities, knowledge, and extensive network benefit the entire community impacted by cloud — from providers and customers to governments, entrepreneurs, and the assurance industry — and provide a forum through which different parties can work together to create and maintain a trusted cloud ecosystem. For further information, visit us at www.cloudsecurityalliance.org, and follow us on X @cloudsa.

Media Contacts
Kristina Rundquist
ZAG Communications for the CSA
kristina@zagcommunications.com