Enhancing Cloud Security with CISA’s SCuBA Scans: What Government and Private Sector Organizations Need to Know

In an era of escalating cyber threats, organizations must continuously validate and strengthen their cloud configurations. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has introduced a powerful initiative called SCuBA (Secure Cloud Business Applications) to help organizations proactively assess and improve their cloud security configurations.

Whether you’re part of a federal agency or a private enterprise, CISA’s SCuBA tools (ScubaGear for Microsoft 365 and ScubaGoggles for Google Workspace) offer a no-cost, automated way to validate your cloud security posture against industry-backed best practices. 

 

What Is the CISA SCuBA Project?

Launched in 2022, the SCuBA project aims to close visibility and security gaps in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) environments by providing:

• Secure Configuration Baselines (SCBs) for Microsoft 365 (M365) and Google Workspace (GWS)
• ScubaGear (PowerShell) and ScubaGoggles (Python) tools for in-depth assessment
• Detailed visual reports that identify misconfigurations and weaknesses

Though originally designed to protect Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) systems, these tools are publicly available, empowering private sector organizations to secure their environments with the same level of scrutiny as government entities.

 

Key Benefits for Government Agencies

1. Automated Compliance Verification

• Quickly assess M365 and GWS environments against CISA’s configuration baselines
• Reduce manual audit efforts and streamline compliance preparation

2. Improved Security Visibility

• Visual dashboards expose misconfigurations, permission issues, and audit logging gaps
• Enable faster, evidence-based decision-making

3. Enhanced Threat Detection

• Identify exploitable settings early
• Improve incident response readiness and overall risk management

4. Efficient Remediation

• Prioritized, actionable recommendations for high-impact fixes
• Seamless integration with existing change management processes

 

Key Benefits for Private Sector Organizations

1. Free, Enterprise-Grade Cloud Security Tools

• Use the same trusted scan engines and baselines as federal agencies, at no cost
• Reduce reliance on expensive third-party assessments

2. Increase Customer and Stakeholder Confidence

• Show a proactive approach to cloud compliance and data protection
• Align with industry standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001

3. Customizable Security for Your Business Needs

• Tailor SCuBA baselines to match your specific risk profile and industry
• Integrate assessments directly into DevSecOps pipelines

4. Smoother and Safer Cloud Migrations

• Verify configurations before going live in the cloud
• Avoid costly missteps and security gaps during cloud onboarding

 

Should You Run the SCuBA Tools Yourself, or Bring in a Trusted Partner?

While SCuBA tools are free and powerful, executing them effectively requires time, technical depth, and secure access. Consider these questions:

• Expertise: Does your team understand the full range of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace security settings and their implications?
• Access: Do your staff have the necessary elevated privileges to run and act on scan results securely?
• Resources: Can your team manage remediation and follow-up scans without compromising daily responsibilities?
• Interpretation: Are you confident in interpreting results and making organization-wide security decisions?

For many organizations, the best path forward is to partner with a trusted cybersecurity consultant who can guide, execute, and optimize the SCuBA process for maximum impact.

Why Partner with RBA?

At RBA, we help both public and private organizations operationalize cloud security assessments, close compliance gaps, and improve cloud governance using CISA’s SCuBA tools and beyond.

We bring deep technical expertise in enterprise cloud security. From scan execution and interpretation to remediation planning and reporting for audits, our team works alongside yours to meet:

• Federal mandates
• Industry-specific compliance frameworks
• Internal organizational security objectives 

Whether you’re enhancing your cloud security for regulatory compliance or preparing for a secure cloud migration, RBA is your trusted partner for making SCuBA work for you.

Ready to strengthen your cloud security posture?

 Let’s talk about how RBA can help you leverage CISA SCuBA tools to improve cloud security, accelerate compliance, and build lasting stakeholder trust.

Contact us today to schedule a security assessment or SCuBA scan consultation.