Security Questionnaire Intake Checklist
A checklist for capturing due dates, buyer context, file or portal constraints, evidence needs, and response ownership before work begins.
Use this when a new customer security questionnaire arrives and the team needs a consistent intake record before drafting answers.
Complete the intake fields before assigning reviewers. If the request is portal-based, capture access constraints and export limitations before any answer work begins.
| Field | Your entry | What to put here |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer name * | Use the customer or prospect name from the request. | |
| Due date * | Use the buyer requested submission date. | |
| Questionnaire format * | Spreadsheet, document, PDF, portal, or other. | |
| Primary owner * | Name the accountable internal owner. | |
| Escalation notes | List unsupported, sensitive, or ambiguous areas. |
Request context
Capture the commercial and operational details that determine priority.
- Buyer and opportunity loggedRecord the account, deal stage, renewal or expansion context, ARR, and sales owner.
- Deal urgency confirmedConfirm whether the questionnaire is blocking a close, a renewal, or a go-live date.
- Requesting contact identifiedCapture the buyer-side requester and who on their side reviews the answers.
- Prior history checkedNote whether this buyer has sent a questionnaire before and reuse the prior response if so.
Scope and format
Understand exactly what is being asked and how it must be delivered.
- Due date and SLA capturedRecord the buyer due date and any internal turnaround SLA.
- Delivery format identifiedSpreadsheet, document, PDF, or buyer portal — note the exact format and version.
- Portal access requestedIf portal-based, request logins early and capture export or copy restrictions.
- Question count and sections scopedEstimate volume and flag any frameworks referenced (SOC 2, ISO 27001, CAIQ, HECVAT).
- Custom or unusual questions flaggedIdentify questions that fall outside your standard answer library.
Ownership and routing
Assign accountability and pull in the right reviewers before drafting.
- Primary owner assignedName the person accountable for final submission and buyer communication.
- SMEs identified for routingPre-identify security, legal, privacy, and product reviewers for likely escalations.
- Kickoff and checkpoints scheduledSet a start, a mid-point review, and a final approval slot against the due date.
Evidence readiness
Confirm the supporting evidence buyers will ask for is current and shareable.
- Core compliance reports currentConfirm SOC 2, ISO, or pen-test reports are in date and ready to share.
- NDA or sharing terms confirmedVerify whether sensitive evidence needs an NDA or a gated trust center link.
- Answer library freshness checkedConfirm reusable answers were reviewed recently and still match current controls.
Risk and escalation
Surface anything that could block, delay, or commit the company.
- Privacy and legal flags raisedFlag data residency, sub-processor, DPA, or contractual commitment questions for legal.
- Unsupported or roadmap questions notedMark items you cannot answer affirmatively yet and decide how to position them.
- Commitment language reviewedEnsure no answer promises a control or timeline that is not actually in place.