Free Security Culture Survey
50+ Expert Crafted Security Culture Survey Questions
Get ahead of cyber threats by measuring your organization's Security Culture - uncover employee attitudes, behaviors, and awareness of cybersecurity best practices to close gaps before they become costly breaches. A Security Culture survey provides the data-driven insights you need to build a resilient, security-first mindset across your teams. Start with our free template loaded with example questions, and if it doesn't meet your needs, head to our form builder to craft a custom survey.
Trusted by 5000+ Brands
Top Secrets for a Rock-Solid Security Culture Survey
Conducting a Security Culture survey matters right from the start. It helps leaders spot blind spots in policies and boost awareness across teams. A clear view of your security culture gives you the power to drive real change. Whether you seek to tighten processes or empower staff, survey data is your compass.
Imagine a finance firm facing a surge in phishing clicks. Leaders ran a quick poll that revealed staff lacked confidence spotting scams. They combined it with our Cyber Security Survey template to drill down on risk awareness. Within weeks they tailored training and cut clicks by 40%.
Experts highlight top management support, clear policies, and ongoing awareness as pillars of a secure culture (arXiv). Structure your survey around these elements and ask targeted questions like "How confident are you in our incident response plan?" or "What do you value most about our security training?" to drive meaningful insights.
Keep your survey digital, concise, and jargon-free to boost completion rates. Integrate user-friendly scales, open comments, and real-life scenarios. For example, "What prevents you from reporting suspicious emails?" encourages honest feedback that leads to real fixes. Quick, engaging formats ensure higher response rates.
Dive deeper with insights from the ScienceDirect review. It outlines how measuring behaviour and beliefs uncovers hidden risks. A well-crafted question like "Which security policy step feels most cumbersome?" reveals friction points you can smooth out immediately. Use these insights to refine follow-up actions and close the feedback loop.
Ready to put theory into practice? Try our Cyber Security Survey template and transform data into action. You'll gain clear metrics to track progress and win stakeholder buy-in. A sound strategy paired with expert-informed questions makes your next assessment a game-changer.
5 Must-Know Tips to Avoid Pitfalls in Your Security Culture Survey
Even the best Security Culture survey can stumble if you overlook common pitfalls. Missteps like vague questions or ignoring key metrics can render results useless. This guide scraps theories and serves up five must-know tips to steer your assessment toward clarity and action. Read on to see what you'll gain and how to apply these insights immediately.
1. Leading or broad questions often dilute insights. Imagine asking "Do you agree with our security rules?" and getting a flat 'yes' from most employees - hardly actionable. Instead, choose focused prompts such as "Which part of our data handling policy do you find most challenging?" Targeted queries reveal specific pain points to tackle in your next training session.
2. Skipping evaluation metrics makes progress invisible. Without linking questions to objectives, you can't measure training success. Research in arXiv highlights embedding clear metrics in surveys. Ask, "On a scale of 1 - 5, how prepared do you feel to spot phishing attempts?" to track improvement.
3. Static design in dynamic environments backfires. A pre-pandemic survey might miss remote work challenges or new threats. The framework from arXiv on critical infrastructures during COVID-19 shows how to tweak dimensions on the fly. Question, "How has working from home changed your security routine?" for timely feedback.
4. Ignoring security attitudes leaves a blind spot. The SA-13 tool (arXiv) proves that gauging resistance and engagement shapes better interventions. Pose, "What concerns you most when using company devices offsite?" Capturing honest sentiment drives trust and boosts compliance.
5. No follow-up plan stunts growth. Collecting feedback without sharing results or mapping actions saps enthusiasm. Present findings via dashboards or team meetings, set clear deadlines, and assign responsibility. With these five tips, you'll dodge common slip-ups and turn your Security Culture survey into a catalyst for real change.
Leadership and Advocacy Questions
Strong leadership commitment is the backbone of a resilient security culture. This section explores how leaders advocate and model secure behaviors to drive engagement and accountability within the organization. For broader context, review our Company Culture Survey .
-
Do you feel that senior leaders actively promote security as a priority?
Understanding leadership visibility helps gauge whether security is seen as a core value or just a compliance checkbox.
-
How often do leaders communicate security goals and achievements?
Frequent communication from the top reinforces the importance of security and keeps it front of mind for employees.
-
Do you trust leadership to respond swiftly to security incidents?
Trust in leadership's incident response builds confidence and encourages timely reporting of potential issues.
-
Are leaders seen modeling secure behavior in day-to-day operations?
When leaders demonstrate proper security practices, employees are more likely to follow their example.
-
Do you believe leadership provides sufficient resources for security initiatives?
Allocating resources shows commitment and empowers teams to implement effective security measures.
-
How transparent are leaders about security challenges and setbacks?
Openness about challenges fosters a culture of continuous improvement rather than blame.
-
Do leaders encourage cross-departmental collaboration on security matters?
Collaboration breaks down silos and ensures a unified approach to risk mitigation across teams.
-
Are you aware of any recent leadership-led security campaigns or initiatives?
Awareness of campaigns indicates how effectively leadership promotes security programs company-wide.
-
Do senior managers recognize and reward secure behaviors?
Positive reinforcement motivates employees to prioritize security in their daily activities.
-
How do leaders handle feedback about security policies or processes?
Receptive leadership improves policies and demonstrates respect for frontline insights.
Policy Awareness and Understanding Questions
Clear, well-communicated policies are essential for consistent security practices. This section assesses employees' familiarity with key security policies and their understanding of how those rules apply to daily tasks. To see related topics, check our Security Survey .
-
Are you aware of the organization's data classification policy?
Data classification guides how information is handled and protects sensitive assets from unauthorized access.
-
Can you easily access the latest security policies and guidelines?
Accessibility of policy documents ensures employees have the information needed to comply effectively.
-
Do you understand your responsibilities under the acceptable use policy?
Clear role definitions help prevent misuse of systems and data by aligning employee actions with organizational rules.
-
Have you received training on the incident response policy?
Training ensures employees know the correct steps to take when a security breach or suspicious activity occurs.
-
Are the policy update processes communicated clearly?
Transparent update processes minimize confusion and ensure everyone operates with the most current rules.
-
Do you feel policies are practical and aligned with your daily work?
Policies that match real-world workflows are more likely to be adopted and followed consistently.
-
How often do you review security policies?
Regular review habits indicate ongoing engagement and awareness of evolving security requirements.
-
Have you encountered any policy gaps that affect your work?
Identifying gaps allows the organization to refine policies and close vulnerabilities.
-
Do you know who to contact for policy clarifications?
Clear points of contact prevent uncertainty and accelerate resolution of policy questions.
-
Are policy violations addressed consistently?
Consistent enforcement maintains credibility and deters non-compliant behavior across the workforce.
Incident Reporting and Response Questions
Timely and accurate incident reporting is critical to minimizing impact and enabling rapid response. This section measures comfort levels and knowledge about the reporting process. Learn more about processes in our Risk Culture Survey .
-
Do you know the steps to report a security incident?
Clear reporting steps help ensure incidents are captured early and handled appropriately.
-
Have you ever reported a security concern or breach?
Actual reporting behavior indicates whether employees trust and use the established channels.
-
Do you feel safe reporting incidents without fear of reprisal?
A no-blame culture encourages openness and transparency, vital for identifying risks quickly.
-
Is incident response communication timely and informative?
Effective communication during incidents builds confidence in the organization's ability to manage crises.
-
Are you aware of after-action reviews following incidents?
Post-incident reviews drive continuous learning and help prevent similar events in the future.
-
Do you know who the incident response team members are?
Familiarity with the response team streamlines coordination and reduces confusion in urgent situations.
-
Have you participated in any incident response drills?
Practical exercises enhance readiness and reveal gaps in procedures before a real event occurs.
-
Do you receive feedback after reporting a security issue?
Feedback validates the reporting process and demonstrates that concerns are taken seriously.
-
How comfortable are you escalating unresolved security issues?
A clear escalation path ensures critical issues reach the right stakeholders for timely resolution.
-
Are incident reporting tools user-friendly?
Intuitive tools reduce friction and increase the likelihood of thorough, accurate reporting.
Training and Awareness Questions
Effective security training empowers employees to recognize and respond to threats. This section assesses the quality and impact of awareness programs. Dive deeper with our Data Security Awareness Training Survey .
-
Have you completed mandatory security training in the past 12 months?
Timely completion of training ensures employees stay updated on evolving threats and best practices.
-
Was the training content relevant to your role?
Role-specific material increases engagement and helps employees apply security concepts to their tasks.
-
Do you find training materials easy to understand?
Clarity in training boosts knowledge retention and encourages correct security behaviors.
-
Are phishing simulations conducted regularly?
Simulations test awareness and help employees develop practical skills to identify fraudulent messages.
-
Have you received hands-on security workshops or exercises?
Interactive sessions reinforce learning through real-world scenarios and active participation.
-
Do you get updates about emerging security threats?
Regular updates keep employees alert to new risks and reinforce the need for vigilance.
-
How confident are you identifying phishing or social engineering attempts?
Employee confidence is a strong indicator of training effectiveness in threat recognition.
-
Is there a process for sharing security tips within your team?
Peer-to-peer sharing fosters a collaborative learning environment and amplifies awareness.
-
Do you have access to on-demand security resources?
On-demand materials allow employees to refresh their knowledge whenever questions arise.
-
Are you encouraged to practice secure habits outside formal training?
Reinforcement through everyday reminders helps internalize security behaviors long-term.
Employee Behavior and Compliance Questions
Day-to-day actions shape the overall security posture. This section explores how employees internalize and comply with security norms. For an integrated view, see our Culture Survey .
-
Do you follow password policies consistently?
Adherence to password guidelines is a basic yet critical defense against unauthorized access.
-
How often do you lock your workstation when away?
Physical security habits prevent unauthorized use of unattended devices and protect sensitive data.
-
Do you use multi-factor authentication whenever available?
MFA adds a crucial layer of protection beyond passwords, making accounts harder to compromise.
-
Are personal devices secured according to company guidelines?
Ensuring mobile and personal devices meet standards prevents potential backdoor access points.
-
Do you report lost or stolen devices immediately?
Rapid reporting of missing hardware reduces the window of opportunity for data breaches.
-
How often do you clear your desk and lock away sensitive documents?
Good housekeeping reduces the risk of accidental data exposure in shared workspaces.
-
Do you verify email senders before clicking links or opening attachments?
Vigilant email scrutiny is key to preventing malware infections and phishing breaches.
-
Are you comfortable refusing to bypass security controls?
Empowered employees will prioritize policy over convenience, reducing risky workarounds.
-
Do you follow secure file-sharing protocols?
Proper handling of information transfers prevents unauthorized access to confidential data.
-
Have you ever witnessed or corrected insecure behavior among peers?
Peer intervention promotes collective accountability and reinforces positive security norms.
Risk Perception and Assessment Questions
Awareness of potential threats is the first step to proactive defense. This section evaluates how employees perceive and assess risks in their roles. Complement this with insights from our Cyber Security Survey .
-
How would you rate the overall security risk in your daily tasks?
Self-assessment of risk drives individual vigilance and informs targeted training needs.
-
Are you aware of common cyber threats facing our industry?
Knowledge of prevalent threats empowers employees to spot and report suspicious activity early.
-
Do you feel prepared to handle a phishing attempt?
Preparedness reflects both confidence and competence, reducing the chances of successful attacks.
-
How likely are you to recognize insider threat behaviors?
Understanding internal risk factors helps teams detect and mitigate threats from within.
-
Do you believe human error is a significant security risk?
Acknowledging human vulnerabilities informs the design of better controls and training programs.
-
Are you comfortable raising concerns about third-party vendor security?
Open dialogue about external partners ensures supply-chain risks are managed proactively.
-
How frequently do you review risk-related communications?
Engagement with risk communications indicates how well the organization keeps employees informed.
-
Do you feel empowered to suggest improvements to risk controls?
Employee input drives innovation and ensures controls remain practical and effective.
-
Are risk assessments incorporated into your project planning?
Early risk consideration prevents costly security oversights during project execution.
-
How confident are you in the organization's ability to manage emerging risks?
Confidence levels reveal whether current strategies are perceived as adequate for future threats.
