1up analyzed more than 10,000 real security questions from an anonymized and sanitized set of questionnaires. Here’s what we learned.

When you get tough data security questions from either customers or auditors, your response will either build trust or raise red flags. 

We’re living in an era where a single data breach can make major headlines. Regulatory fines run upwards of millions of dollars. So it is incumbent upon your organization to be able to respond to all data security questions with clarity and confidence that reveals your credibility. 

Security questionnaires are now something to just expect in business. They test the maturity of your organization, and virtually no company is immune to them. A startup may now face the same scrutiny as a Fortune 500 company in terms of security. 

Fear not. We’re here to help. This article will outline the 20 most common data security questions. These are the ones you’ll likely get from procurement teams, enterprise buyers, and regulatory assessors. We’re also walking you through how best to respond, complete with example statements. 

You may be preparing for an SOC 2 audit or simply seeking to refine your policies. In any event, this guide will help you create a security posture that garners trust and confidence. 

Need help? Download this template for the most common security questionnaire responses.

The 5 Most Common Categories of Data Security Questions

Here’s a chart outlining the most common categories you can expect to see:

1. Data Protection & Encryption

This first category deals with issues of confidentiality, integrity, and availability at every stage of your data. This includes storage, transmission, and archiving. Your potential buyers will want to know how you handle encryption standards, data residency requirements, and what your secure backups are like. 

Questions in this category will relate to whether data is encrypted at rest or in transit, how and where customer data is stored, and what your backup frequency is like. 

2. Access Control & Authentication

Your buyers want to know who can access their data, how that’s decided, and whether users have proper authentication. Strong access control can virtually eliminate insider risk and damage from compromised accounts. 

Questions in this category will center around role-based access control (RBAC), SSO and MFA implementation, and privileged user account management. 

3. Security Policies, Certifications, and Compliance

Here, the prospect is evaluating the maturity and credibility of your company’s security. There will be concerns about your security frameworks, whether and how you conduct employee training, and whether you comply with external standards and legal mandates. 

Questions in this category will address your documented policies, your compliance with standards like SOC 2, GDPR, and HIPAA, and your program for employee awareness training. 

4. Incident Management & Vulnerability Response 

Even the best security controls are bound to fail under the wrong circumstances. Buyers want to see that you can handle incidents if and when they occur. They also want to know how quickly you’ll notify them, how you analyze any root causes, and what you do to fix vulnerabilities. 

Questions in this category will explore your breach notification procedures, your incident response playbooks, and your vulnerability scanning. Plus, you’ll likely be asked about your timelines for remediation. 

5. Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery 

It happens. Disaster strikes. The key is to maintain uptime. If you can’t, your goal is to resume services as quickly as you can. Potential customers and auditors will want to know about your preparedness for outages, attacks, and other disruptions. 

Questions in this category will want to know about your DRP/BCP documentation and testing, Recovery Time Objectives (RTO), and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO). They’ll also likely ask about your backup testing, geographic redundancy, and alternate sites. 

1. Do you have a documented Information Security Policy reviewed and approved by management?

Why they’re asking: 

When your buyer sees a documented Information Security Policy, they feel more confident that your organization takes security seriously. They want to know that you have a formal governance structure in place. This question aims to confirm that security in your organization isn’t an afterthought. Rather, your security is deeply embedded in your company culture.

If you can show review and approval by management, you demonstrate ongoing commitment and oversight. If you don’t have these in place, it can signal to partners that your security efforts are inconsistent or neglected. 

How to respond: 

Your goal here is to explain that you do have a policy, outline who approves that policy, and how often it’s reviewed. Also, be sure to reveal how your policy is shared internally. 

Great example: 

“Yes, we have a documented Information Security Policy that is reviewed and approved annually by executive leadership. Our policy is shared across the company, and it serves as the foundation for all of our security practices.” 

2. What third-party security certifications does your organization maintain (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II)?

Why they’re asking: 

With a third-party certification, you have an independent validation of your security controls and processes. These certifications reduce uncertainty because they confirm that your organization meets widely recognized industry standards. Buyers want to know that you don’t just verify your security posture. Instead, it’s audited by external, trusted bodies. 

How to respond: 

Provide your buyer with a list of your certifications, issuing bodies, and dates. Also, be sure to mention whether your audits are annual or take place in an ongoing fashion. 

Great example: 

“We maintain SOC 2 Type II certification, which is audited by a third-party firm on an annual basis. We are also ISO 27001 certified, and our most recent recertification was completed in Q2 2025.” 

3. How is customer data protected at rest and in transit (encryption methods, protocols used, e.g., AES-256, TLS 1.2)?

Why they’re asking: 

It’s a fundamental aspect of presenting unauthorized access to your networks to protect your data where it’s stored and while it’s moving across those networks. Buyers here want reassurance that your organization employs strong cryptographic methods so you can comply with the best security practices at the time. It also lets your buyer know how seriously you treat confidentiality and data integrity. 

How to respond: 

You can specify which encryption protocols you follow for your data while it’s at rest and in transit. 

Great example: 

“We keep our customer data encrypted at rest using AES-256 and in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher. Our encryption keys are managed using AWS KMS with strict access controls.” 

4. What is your backup and recovery process, including frequency, retention, and testing of backups?

Why they’re asking: 

Your backups are your last line of defense against any data loss. This could be from hardware failures, human error, or from ransomware attacks. Your buyer wants to know whether you have reliable, regular backups that you test and can restore quickly. It reveals how well you’re prepared to recover your business operations without prolonged downtime or data loss. 

How to respond: 

Here, you can describe your backup frequency, retention periods, storage locations, and testing cadence. 

Great example: 

“We perform full backups every night, and we retain records for 90 days. We also encrypt and store data in a separate region. We test our entire recovery process on a quarterly basis.” 

5. Do you have a documented Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan? How often are these plans tested?

Why they’re asking: 

Your buyer wants you to assure them that your business can keep operating under adverse conditions. These could include natural disasters, cyberattacks, or critical system failures. 

They’d like to see a documented plan that shows you’ve anticipated potential risks and that you have formal procedures in place to minimize any impact. If you perform regular testing, you can make sure these plans are effective and that your staff can execute those plans. 

How to respond: 

The best answer is one that describes the existence, the scope, and the testing schedule of BDP/DRP. 

Great example: 

“Yes. We maintain a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan that is reviewed and tested on an annual basis. We use both tabletop and live simulation exercises.” 

6. How is access to systems and customer data managed and controlled (e.g., RBAC, least privilege, access reviews)?

Why they’re asking: 

Access management is one of the essential elements of prevention when it comes to unauthorized use or accidental exposure of sensitive data. The buyer wants to know whether you enforce principles like least privilege. This will ensure users only have the access they actually need. 

They’re also interested in role-based access control (RBAC). This simplifies and strengthens permissions management. If you perform regular access reviews, you’ll help identify and revoke unnecessary privileges, which will reduce insider risk.

How to respond: 

You can let your buyer know about your RBAC, least privilege principles, and how frequently you review access. 

Great example: 

“We manage access through role-based access control with least privilege enforced. We also review access on a quarterly basis and remediate any anomalies promptly.”

7. Do you support Single Sign-On (SSO), SAML, or Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for secure authentication?

Why they’re asking: 

Authentication is critical in the field of attack vectors, and the technologies used improve security by eliminating password fatigue and adding multiple layers of protection.

Supporting SSO and SAML can simplify your user management and help improve your compliance issues. MFA will reduce the risk of having your accounts compromised when credentials get stolen. The buyer is gauging your adoption of modern, secure authentication. 

How to respond: 

You can send a list of your supported authentication methods and enforcement policies. 

Great example: 

“Yes. We support SAML-based SSO and enforce MFA for all internal and administrative users.” 

8. How do you provision and de-provision user accounts? Are regular access reviews conducted?

Why they’re asking: 

Timely provisioning is your way to ensure your users have the access they need when they need it. At the same time, prompt de-provisioning helps you prevent former employees or contractors from retaining access they shouldn’t have.

When you perform regular access reviews, you maintain ongoing security hygiene by verifying current user privileges. If you fail to manage your user accounts, you can end up with unauthorized access and data leaks. 

How to respond: 

You can describe your onboarding and offboarding workflows and your review intervals. 

Great example: 

“All of our accounts are provisioned through HR-driven workflows. Deprovisioning takes place in our facility within 24 hours of termination of employment or contract. We also conduct access reviews monthly.” 

9. Do you require background checks and confidentiality agreements for all employees and contractors?

Why they’re asking: 

Generally, the weakest link in security is your staff. You can help reduce the risk they pose by conducting thorough background checks of all individuals before hiring. This helps weed out anyone with malicious behavior. You can also have your employees sign confidentiality agreements to provide legal protection and emphasize the importance of safeguarding sensitive data. 

How to respond: 

You can state your screening policies and employment requirements clearly and thoroughly. 

Great example: 

“Yes. All employees and contractors undergo background checks and sign NDAs before they access any systems or are privy to customer data.” 

10. What security training programs and awareness measures are in place for employees?

Why they’re asking: 

Some of the most common causes of breaches are human error and social engineering attacks. When you provide regular security training, your staff becomes aware of the risks and understands company policies. That way, they can easily identify threats like phishing.

How to respond: 

Your response here reveals your commitment to cultivating a security-conscious workforce, so describe the frequency, the topics, and your delivery method for training. 

Great example: 

“Security training is mandatory during onboarding and conducted once a year after that. We also run phishing simulations every quarter.” 

11. How do you detect, respond to, and report security incidents and data breaches, including notification procedures and timelines?

Why they’re asking: 

When you can promptly detect and respond to security incidents, you can limit damage. Your response to this question verifies for your client that you have a defined incident response process. You also reveal your monitoring tools and clear communication protocols. This includes your adherence to legal requirements for breach notifications. 

How to respond: 

Here, you can describe to your buyer what detection tools you have, as well as your response plans and notification timelines. 

Great example: 

“We use a SIEM for real-time threat detection. We triage any incidents within one hour, and if customers are impacted, we report to our customers within 72 hours, which is required by law.” 

12. Do you conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration testing? What is your process for remediating identified issues?

Why they’re asking: 

Security vulnerabilities can certainly exist in software or in infrastructure, and they must be proactively identified. The question here gauges whether you employ continuous scanning and periodic deep penetration tests. These help uncover weaknesses and whether you have procedures and timelines that define remediation. 

How to respond: 

You can give the buyers your scan cadence, a list of tools you use, and your SLAs for remediation. 

Great example: 

“We run weekly automated vulnerability scans on all of our assets. We also perform external penetration testing annually, and we resolve critical issues within 7 days.” 

13. Is there an audit trail or logging of access and changes to customer data? How is this data protected and retained?

Why they’re asking: 

Audit trails offer your client transparency and accountability. This helps detect unauthorized actions and supports forensic investigations. They can also help you meet your compliance requirements. When you protect and retain logs, you prevent tampering and ensure you’re available for investigations. 

How to respond: 

You can refer buyers to your logging scope, your retention period, and your protection measures. 

Great example: 

“We log all access and modifications to customer data. We also encrypt and retain everything for 12 months. We then review our logs during every quarterly audit. 

14. What controls are in place to monitor for unauthorized or suspicious activity (e.g., SIEM, IDS/IPS)?

Why they’re asking: 

To ensure early detection of threats or breaches, you must conduct continuous monitoring. SIEMs, intrusion detection, and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) help identify unusual patterns that may flag malicious activity. This enables faster incident responses.  

How to respond: 

Here, all you have to do is describe the tools and processes you’ve got in use. 

Great example: 

“We use a managed SIEM solution with built-in IDS. Our 24/7 security team triages all alerts, and they escalate based on our predefined security levels.” 

15. How do you ensure physical security for systems and media storing or processing customer data?

Why they’re asking: 

Physical access controls are a fundamental layer when it comes to defense. Even if you have cloud infrastructure, data centers, and hardware, it must be physically secured so you can prevent theft and destruction. 

How to respond: 

You can describe your hosting environment certifications, your controls, and your access protocols. 

Great example: 

“Our infrastructure is hosted on AWS, which is ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified. Our data centers have biometric access and video surveillance. We also have staffed security.” 

16. Are customer data and backups only stored in agreed-upon geographic locations? Can customers select their data residency region?

Why they’re asking: 

Data sovereignty laws require certain data in order to remain within specified jurisdictions. The buyer here wants to know whether you respect these boundaries, both legal and contractual. They want to be sure you offer them, and all your customers, control over their data location. 

How to respond: 

You can explain your storage defaults and any options you offer for region selection. 

Great example: 

“We store customer data and backups in the selected region. Our customers can specify their preferred data residency region during the onboarding process.” 

17. What is your data retention and secure destruction policy for customer data and media?

Why they’re asking: 

Keeping data longer than necessary increases your risk of exposure. When you securely destroy old data, you prevent data recovery from decommissioned media. The buyer wants to ensure you adhere to compliance with legal requirements and that you follow data minimization principles. 

How to respond: 

You can show your potential client your policy timelines, your deletion methods, and your alignment with compliance. 

Great example: 

“We retain customer data for 30 days after a contract has been terminated unless otherwise requested. We securely delete data using NIST 800-88 compliant methods.” 

18. Are your development, testing, and production environments separated? How is production data controlled in non-production environments?

Why they’re asking: 

Mixing environments increases the risk of accidental exposure or use of real customer data in less secure settings. When you can segregate and mask data, you can help maintain confidentiality and reduce risk during development. 

How to respond: 

You can describe your environment isolation and your data masking practices. 

Great example: 

“Yes. We keep our environments fully separated. We never use production data in test environments, and we anonymize all test data using irreversible masking techniques.”

19. Do you have DLP (Data Loss Prevention) controls to prevent unauthorized data transfer or leakage?

Why they’re asking: 

DLP systems help detect and block accidental or intentional sharing of sensitive information outside of our authorized channels. This reduces insider risk and regulatory exposure. 

How to respond: 

You can outline for your buyer your DLP tools, rulesets, and coverage areas. 

Great example: 

“We use endpoint and email-based DLP tools to detect and block unauthorized sharing of sensitive information. We regularly review and update all of our rules.” 

20. How do you ensure ongoing compliance with relevant data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI)?

Why they’re asking: 

Regulations evolve. Ongoing compliance demands active monitoring and responsive adjustment. This question investigates if you have mechanisms in place to stay current. It also asks whether you implement the required controls and can demonstrate your compliance to auditors or customers.

How to respond: 

Here, you can list all the applicable laws you follow as well as your compliance tracking methods. 

Great example: 

“We maintain a compliance register for GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. We conduct internal quarterly audits, and we have external legal counsel review material changes.” 

How You Can Respond to Data Security Questions Better

Look, your buyers and regulators don’t expect perfection. But they do expect professionalism. To build confidence, you must prepare a response proactively by documenting your controls and ensuring your team fully understands your security posture. 

When you can send a well-thought-out and well-prepared response, you signal to your buyer that your company takes security seriously and operates with accountability. 

But you probably hate doing them. That’s why 1up offers automated data security answers:

We can centralize all of your company’s security information in one place and provide automated security questionnaire responses.

FAQs for Data Security Questionnaire Example