Survey Software
Survey software technologies encompass a range of tools and platforms used to create, distribute, and analyze surveys. These technologies can collect customer, employee, or stakeholder feedback on various topics. Some standard features of survey software include:
Survey creation tools: Drag-and-drop interfaces, templates, and question libraries to design surveys.
Distribution channels: Email, social media, website embeds, or mobile apps for reaching respondents.
Data analysis: Tools for analyzing responses, generating reports, and visualizing data.
Integration: Integration with other systems like CRM or HR software.
Importance of Knowing If Your Organization Uses These Technologies:
It is essential to know if these technologies are being used within your organization, both sanctioned and unsanctioned, for several reasons:
Data Privacy: Survey software often collects sensitive personal information from respondents. Organizations must ensure their software complies with relevant data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). Unsanctioned use of survey software can lead to non-compliance and potential data breaches.
Security Vulnerabilities: Survey software, especially cloud-based solutions, can have vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit to access sensitive data or disrupt operations. Regular security audits and updates are essential to mitigate risks.
Phishing Attacks: Cybercriminals can create fake surveys to trick users into revealing sensitive information. Organizations should be aware of any unauthorized surveys that might impersonate their brand.
Reputation Damage: If unauthorized or poorly secured survey software is used, it can lead to data breaches or other security incidents that could damage the organization's reputation.
Qualtrics and Cybersecurity Concerns:
Qualtrics is a popular cloud-based survey software platform. While Qualtrics has robust security measures, organizations should be aware of potential risks associated with any cloud-based platform:
Data Breaches: Qualtrics stores and processes sensitive data in the cloud. Organizations must ensure that Qualtrics' security practices are adequate and regularly reviewed.
Third-Party Risks: Qualtrics may use third-party services for specific functionalities. Organizations should assess the security practices of these third-party vendors.
Account Security: Ensure strong password policies and multi-factor authentication are implemented for Qualtrics accounts to prevent unauthorized access.
ThreatNG: Identifying and Managing Risks from Survey Software Technologies
ThreatNG can be crucial in identifying and mitigating the risks associated with survey software technologies used by your organization, third parties, and supply chain.
External Attack Surface Management (EASM): ThreatNG continuously scans the internet to discover all externally visible digital assets associated with your organization. This includes identifying any instances of survey software deployed on websites or mobile apps. ThreatNG can help assess the security posture of these deployments and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Digital Risk Protection (DRP): ThreatNG monitors the dark web, social media, and other online channels for mentions of your organization, brands, or sensitive data. This includes detecting any leaked credentials or discussing potential security flaws in your survey software.
Security Ratings: ThreatNG provides a comprehensive risk score by analyzing your organization's external attack surface and digital risk profile. This score includes an assessment of the security posture of the survey software used by your organization.
Example Workflow with Complementary Solutions:
ThreatNG Discovery: ThreatNG identifies an unsanctioned Qualtrics survey hosted on a subdomain of your organization's website.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Integration: ThreatNG alerts your DLP solution about the potential risk of sensitive data being collected through the unauthorized survey.
SIEM Integration: ThreatNG sends an alert to your SIEM platform, triggering an incident response workflow.
Remediation: The security team investigates the unauthorized survey, takes it down, and implements measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Overall Benefits:
By implementing ThreatNG, organizations can realize the following benefits:
Improved Visibility: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the survey software used by your organization, third parties, and supply chain.
Reduced Risk: Identify and mitigate potential security risks associated with these technologies.
Enhanced Compliance: Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
Improved Security Posture: Benchmark your security posture against industry peers and prioritize remediation efforts.
Cost Savings: Automate security tasks and reduce the risk of costly data breaches.
