How Vendors Can Effectively Fill Out a Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire

Vendor assessments are becoming increasingly common as organizations seek to mitigate risks associated with third-party vendors. For vendors, completing a Vendor Security Assessment (VSA) questionnaire can become tedious, complex and time-consuming. However, with the right approach and preparation, you can efficiently complete these questionnaires while strengthening your organization’s security posture.
In this blog, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide to help vendors navigate the process of filling out a VSA questionnaire and highlight key considerations to ensure accuracy and professionalism.
Why Vendor Security Assessments Matter

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out a Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire
1. Understand the Questionnaire’s Purpose
Before you begin, take time to carefully review the questionnaire and its purpose. This will help you align your responses with the client’s expectations. Most questionnaires aim to evaluate:
- Your security controls and practices
- Compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR, ISO 27001)
- Risk management strategies
- Policies on incident response and data protection
2. Be Honest and Transparent
3. Gather Required Documents and Policies
Most questionnaires ask for evidence to back up your claims. Commonly requested documents include:
- Security policies (e.g., access control, incident response, and encryption policies)
- Proof of compliance with regulations (e.g., certifications like SOC 2 or ISO 27001)
- Details of employee training programs
- Data protection agreements or policies
4. Address Policies and Procedures
- Have documented policies in place (e.g., acceptable use policy, BYOD policy, data encryption standards).
- Provide links or attachments for each policy if requested.
- Demonstrate adherence to these policies in your day-to-day operations.
5. Highlight Security Controls and Best Practices
- Data encryption (both in transit and at rest)
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for critical systems
- Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
- Backup and disaster recovery mechanisms
6. Simplify Complex Requirements
- Simple, actionable steps like ensuring all software is up-to-date.
- Describing any outsourced IT/security support you use.
- Outlining plans to address missing controls, if applicable.
7. Provide Relevant Supporting Evidence
- Security certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2)
- Results from recent security audits or penetration tests
- Employee training certificates
- Details about background checks during hiring
8. Tailor Your Responses
9. Review and Double-Check for Accuracy
- Verify the accuracy of your responses.
- Check for spelling or grammatical errors.
- Ensure all required documents are attached.
How Narad Can Simplify the Vendor Assessment Process
- Automate the Questionnaire Process: Narad uses AI to auto-complete forms by pulling data from your existing compliance documents, saving you hours of manual work.
- Reduce Resources and Costs: Tasks that might traditionally take 3-6 months can be completed in minutes, allowing your team to focus on other priorities.
- Maintain Accuracy: By standardizing responses and referencing stored compliance information, Narad minimizes errors and ensures consistency.
- Improve Security Posture of your organisation: Narad not only helps with questionnaires but also identifies gaps in your compliance framework, providing actionable insights to enhance your organization’s security.
Feel free to Book a Demo to know more about narad.io