Protecting your organization’s security is one challenge, but maintaining the same standards when working with third-party vendors is another.
Aligning with a vendor on various factors—especially data security—can be challenging. Security questionnaires provide a reliable way to evaluate whether a third-party organization meets the necessary standards before engaging in business with them.
In this article, we will dive into the different types of security questionnaires and which ones are best for you to implement in your search for the right vendor.
CAIQ
The Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire (CAIQ) is a security questionnaire specifically designed for cloud service providers. Developed by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), it features nearly 300 yes-or-no questions based on the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM)—a framework that evaluates whether a vendor meets established cloud security standards.
Completing the CAIQ can be time-consuming, and reviewing responses thoroughly also requires careful consideration.
For a more streamlined option, CAIQ Lite offers a condensed version that covers the most critical security aspects while requiring less time to complete. This can be a practical choice when assessing a cloud provider that may not be immediately available to complete the full questionnaire.
SIG
SIG stands for Standardized Information Gathering, a more comprehensive security questionnaire that is used among different industries. It assesses the third-party based on 18 risk domains, covering cybersecurity, IT, data security, and more.
Since the SIG contains over 1200 questions, it is difficult to complete in its entirety. The advantage, however, is that organizations can pick and choose which categories of questions are most relevant to them.
Further, the SIG questionnaire, similar to CAIQ, has a Lite version that focuses on the most important and overarching questions to ask vendors. This is best for vendors that have a lower risk, only needing a basic checklist to review.
VSA
The Vendor Security Alliance (VSA) is a cybersecurity questionnaire that is updated annually. It consists of eight sections covering various security aspects, from data protection to the software supply chain, making it applicable across multiple industries. Similar to CAIQ and SIG, VSA offers both a “Core” version with comprehensive questions and a “Lite” version that focuses on essential security concerns.
What sets VSA apart is its vendor-friendly approach, intentionally designed to streamline the security assessment process. While working with third-party vendors inherently introduces risk, every company’s security needs differ. The VSA questionnaire helps ensure that risk assessment is proportional to the vendor’s role, focusing specifically on the risks associated with the product or service they provide.
Which one do I use?
The choice of questionnaire depends on your organization’s needs and the level of cooperation you expect from your vendor. If you’re evaluating a cloud service provider, CAIQ or CAIQ Lite may be the most suitable option.
For non-cloud providers or a broader security assessment, SIG and VSA are excellent alternatives. If you anticipate your vendor may have concerns about the questionnaire, VSA might be a better option for simplifying the process.
Cloud-Service Provider | Non-Cloud Service Provider | |
Streamlined Assessment | CAIQ Lite | VSA, SIG Lite |
| Thorough Assessment | CAIQ | VSA, SIG |
What’s the point?
These questionnaires are made to assist you in making informed cybersecurity decisions for your organization. It is always better to be safe than sorry when determining who you are sharing your client information with. Ensuring you thoroughly vet your vendors with these questionnaires is an investment that will help safeguard your organization and client data.
