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ISO 27001xlsx

Vendor Risk Assessment Questionnaire

Evaluate supplier security consistently before onboarding and during reviews. Download the vendor questionnaire or assess your wider ISO 27001 readiness online.

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What's Inside

Comprehensive vendor security questionnaire covering 10 security domains with 100+ targeted questions
Vendor classification matrix for categorizing vendors by data sensitivity, system access, and business criticality
Tiered assessment approach with full, standard, and abbreviated questionnaire versions based on vendor risk tier
Risk scoring methodology with automatic calculation of vendor risk ratings (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
Follow-up investigation prompts for answers that indicate potential security concerns
Vendor risk register for tracking assessment results across your entire vendor portfolio
Contractual requirements checklist covering essential security clauses for vendor agreements
Periodic reassessment schedule template with recommended review frequencies based on vendor tier

About This Template

The questionnaire covers the critical security domains that matter when entrusting a vendor with your data or integrating their services into your operations: organizational security governance, access control and identity management, data protection and encryption, network and infrastructure security, application security, business continuity and disaster recovery, incident management, compliance and regulatory adherence, and personnel security. Each domain includes targeted questions with multiple-choice response options, follow-up prompts for deeper investigation, and a risk scoring methodology that produces an objective vendor risk rating.

What makes this template particularly practical is its tiered assessment approach. Not every vendor needs the same level of scrutiny - your cloud hosting provider handling customer data warrants a more thorough assessment than your office supply vendor. The template includes a vendor classification matrix that helps you categorize vendors by the criticality of data or systems they access, then tailors the assessment depth accordingly. Critical vendors receive the full questionnaire; low-risk vendors receive an abbreviated version. This risk-based approach ensures thoroughness where it matters while avoiding unnecessary overhead. The template also includes a vendor risk register for tracking assessment results across your entire vendor portfolio, identifying trends, and prioritizing follow-up actions for vendors that fall below your acceptable risk threshold.

Who It's For

Security and compliance teams responsible for vendor risk management programsProcurement managers who need to evaluate vendor security as part of the onboarding processCISOs building or maturing their organization's third-party risk management programCTOs at startups who need to demonstrate vendor assessment practices for ISO 27001 or customer requirementsData Protection Officers evaluating data processors under GDPR Article 28 requirements

How It Works

1

Open the assessment

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2

Answer and see gaps

Work through each question and see your score, findings, and priorities.

3

Keep it when useful

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the tiered assessment work?
The template includes a vendor classification matrix that categorizes vendors into three tiers based on the sensitivity of data they access, the criticality of systems they connect to, and the business impact if they were compromised. Critical-tier vendors receive the full 100+ question assessment. Standard-tier vendors receive a focused 40-question version. Low-risk vendors receive a 15-question abbreviated screening. This ensures thoroughness where it matters while keeping the process efficient.
How often should I reassess vendors?
The template recommends annual reassessments for critical-tier vendors, biennial reassessments for standard-tier vendors, and reassessment at contract renewal for low-risk vendors. Additional assessments should be triggered by significant changes: vendor security incidents, major service changes, or changes to the data or systems the vendor accesses. The periodic reassessment schedule template helps you track and plan these reviews.
Can I send this directly to vendors to fill out?
Yes. The questionnaire is formatted for direct distribution to vendors. Each question includes clear instructions and response options that vendors can complete without additional guidance. The template also includes a cover letter template explaining the purpose of the assessment and expected response timeline. Most vendors are familiar with security questionnaires and will have much of this information readily available.
Does this satisfy NIS2 supply chain security requirements?
The template addresses the supply chain security assessment aspects of NIS2 Article 21(2)(d), which requires entities to evaluate the security of their direct suppliers and service providers. For full NIS2 compliance, you should also ensure that contractual arrangements with vendors include the cybersecurity requirements specified in the directive. The template's contractual requirements checklist covers these provisions.

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