My team is developing a vendor questionnaire outlining all aspects of an IT stack consisting of networking, cloud, application, database, and security requirements. Is there a template I may be able to leverage? Or advice in building?

When developing a vendor questionnaire for assessing an IT stack, it is important to have a clear and concise framework.
Start with an introduction and background, followed by sections covering vendor information, networking, cloud services, applications, databases, security, integration, support and SLAs, pricing, and contractual terms.

Tailor the questions to gather essential information while leaving room for vendors to provide detailed responses. Evaluate the completed questionnaires, conduct follow-up discussions, and consider site visits or reference checks for further insights. Keeping these guidelines in mind will help you build an effective vendor questionnaire for your IT stack assessment.

Your template needs to consist of the following aspects
1. Vendor information such as
   a. Years of experience in the industry.
   b. Inclusion into professional organisations and Certifications relevant to the IT stack as well as industry standards like CMMI, GPW, etc.
   c.Number of professionals engaged across the organisation
   d.Client references

2. Networking:
   a. Metworking infrastructure and technologies.
   b. Security measures in place 

3. Cloud Services:
   a. What cloud platforms does the vendor support?
   b. Describe the vendor's approach to cloud architecture and design.
   c. Data security and privacy 

4. Applications:
   a. Specialised applications and domain
   b. References application implementations
   c. Application performance optimization and scalability

5. Database:
   a. Database technologies worked with
   b. Data integrity and backup/restore processes
   
6. Security:
   a. Approach to IT security.
   b. Address vulnerabilities and apply patches
   c. Security certifications or audits undergone

7. Support and Maintenance:
   a.Support options offered
   b. Response to support requests
   c.

8. Miscellaneous:
   a.Pricing models and cost structure.
   b. Additional costs or fees 
   c. SLAs
   d. relevant information about the vendor's capabilities or offerings that should be considered?

Remember to customize and expand this template based on your specific requirements and priorities. The questionnaire will help you evaluate potential IT vendors and select the one that best aligns with your organization's needs and goals.

We  can provide you with some guidance on building a vendor questionnaire for assessing IT stack requirements. Here are some steps and considerations to help you develop an effective questionnaire:

 

·        Define Your Requirement

·        Categorize the Questions
·        Include General Information

·        Specific Technical Questions

·        Security and Compliance

·        Integration and Interoperability

·        Service Level Agreements (SLAs

·        Pricing and Contracts

·        Vendor Experience and References

·        Additional Considerations

Remember to strike a balance between asking for comprehensive information and keeping the questionnaire concise. Use clear and straightforward language, and consider providing multiple-choice options when applicable to facilitate vendor responses.

By customizing the questionnaire to your organization's specific requirements and priorities, you can effectively evaluate vendor capabilities and make informed decisions for your IT stack.