StackMatch

How to Evaluate Software Security Before You Buy

Security is not just the IT department's problem. Every software purchase creates a new potential vulnerability. Here's how to assess risk before signing.

By The StackMatch Research Team

60% of data breaches in SMBs come from third-party software, a 15-minute security evaluation prevents most

60%of SMB breaches from third-party tools
15 minPre-purchase security evaluation time
5Security checks every buyer should run

A security checklist for evaluating software vendors before signing.

5
minimum security checks before purchase
SSO, MFA, data encryption, SOC 2, breach notification.

Pre-purchase security checklist

  • Does the tool support SSO/MFA?
  • Is data encrypted at rest and in transit?
  • Does the vendor have SOC 2 certification?
  • What is their breach notification process?

Security is not a feature it is a baseline. A tool lacking basic controls does not belong in your stack.

Security evaluation before purchase prevents costly post-breach remediation.

Software security is the most neglected evaluation criterion in small business purchasing. Buyers compare features, pric...

The five-question security assessment

72
hours
Relevant metric for this section.

Ask five questions before buying any tool. Do they encrypt data in transit and at rest? (Look for TLS 1.2+ and AES-256.) Do they offer multi-factor authentication? (If not, your accounts are vulnerable to password breaches.) Do they have a published security policy or SOC 2 report? (Vendors serious about security make this visible.) Do they train employees on security awareness? (The weakest link is usually human, not technical.) What happens in a breach? (Do they notify you within 72 hours? Do they have insurance?) These five questions eliminate most high-risk vendors.

The red flags

Three red flags should disqualify a vendor immediately. No HTTPS on their website: if they don't secure their own site, they're not securing yours. No password requirements: if the tool accepts 'password123,' its security culture is broken. No mention of security on their pricing or features page: vendors who take security seriously talk about it proactively. The absence of security discussion is a discussion about security — and the conclusion is that it's not a priority.

Security is not just the IT department's problem. Every software purchase creates a new potential vulnerability. Here's how to assess risk before signing.

Run the free audit to see which tools in your current stack meet baseline security standards — and which are creating vulnerabilities you haven't assessed.

Run your own audit
More from the blog