DDQ Security
The security part of a DDQ assesses a company's data protection and controls. See what it covers, example questions, how to answer, and who should own it.
What is DDQ security?
DDQ security refers to the security section of a Due Diligence Questionnaire, which assesses how a company protects data and systems. It overlaps heavily with a standalone security questionnaire, covering certifications, access controls, encryption, incident response, and business continuity, so the requester can judge the risk of trusting the company with sensitive data.
What the security section covers
Example DDQ security questions
- Do you hold a current SOC 2 Type II report, and will you share it under NDA?
- How is customer data encrypted at rest and in transit, and with what key management?
- Describe your access control model, including SSO, MFA, and least privilege.
- Have you experienced a data breach in the last 24 months, and how was it handled?
- What is your RTO and RPO, and when was your disaster recovery plan last tested?
How to answer DDQ security questions
Answer with precise, current facts and attach the supporting certification or policy. Security answers are verified, so an outdated certificate or a vague control description is a real risk. Route these to InfoSec, not sales, and keep the language exact: state the control, the scope, and the evidence. Our guide to answering due diligence questionnaires goes deeper.
Who should own the security section
InfoSec or a security-aware GRC owner should draft and sign off on security answers, with sales or the deal owner coordinating rather than writing. That separation matters because a well-meaning but imprecise sales answer on encryption or breach history can create a warranty problem later. A shared, approved security answer library keeps responses consistent across every DDQ.
Clear the security section without stalling the deal
The security section is where DDQs slow down, because the answers need InfoSec and they have to be exact. Inventive AI drafts each security answer from your connected knowledge with a citation and confidence score, and flags anything outdated, so the security section clears without becoming the bottleneck.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is DDQ security?
DDQ security is the security section of a Due Diligence Questionnaire, assessing how a company protects data and systems through certifications, access controls, encryption, and incident response.
What does the security section of a DDQ cover?
Certifications such as SOC 2 Type II, access controls, data protection and encryption, incident response, business continuity, and vendor risk.
How do you answer DDQ security questions?
With precise, current facts and supporting evidence, routed to InfoSec rather than sales.
Who should own DDQ security answers?
InfoSec or a GRC owner drafts and signs off, with the deal owner coordinating, so answers are exact and defensible.
Is a DDQ security section the same as a security questionnaire?
They overlap heavily. The security section of a DDQ is essentially a security questionnaire embedded in the wider due diligence document.
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