Third-Party Risk Assessment: How to Evaluate Survey Tool Vendors

Who really owns your survey data? Ever thought about it?

If you're a small business owner or part of a lean team, you've probably just picked something that worked fast or free. No time to read endless privacy policies. But behind that quick decision could be a huge risk, one that’s easy to overlook but hard to undo.

Here's Where It Gets Messy

You launch a quick survey. Maybe it’s for customer feedback or a wellness check for your team. You’re collecting emails, opinions, maybe even health info. The platform looks polished. It’s free, or you think so. But what you don’t realize is that your data is being tracked, stored, and maybe even monetized by the tool itself. They’ve got access to everything... and guess who’s responsible if something goes wrong? You, not them. Now that’s a mess you don’t want to clean up.

Why Security Actually Matters (More Than You Think)

You might not be collecting credit card numbers or medical records, but even simple surveys can gather personal data. And once that happens, you’re responsible for it. Not just ethically, but legally. If your tool gets breached or mishandles your responses, it’s your brand on the line. 

If you work in healthcare, finance, or serve people in the EU? Now you're dealing with compliance laws like HIPAA and GDPR, too. The bottom line: bad tools can quietly put you at serious risk.

Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Secure Survey Tool

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert - but you do need to ask better questions before trusting a platform with your audience’s data.

Start with these:

1. Who owns the data once it’s collected?
   (If it’s not 100% yours, that’s a dealbreaker.)
   

2. Is the data encrypted from end to end?
   (Not just during transfer, but while it's stored too.)
   

3. Can the vendor see your survey responses?
   (Some can. Some even mine them.)
   

4. Are third-party trackers or ads injected into your forms?
   (You’d be surprised how many tools do this.)
   

5. Is the tool GDPR and HIPAA compliant?
   (Even if you’re not in healthcare or the EU, it's a good sign they take privacy seriously.)
   

6. Where is your data stored?
   (You want reputable infrastructure, not mystery servers.)
   

7. Can you delete your data fully, forever?
   (Partial deletions don’t cut it.)
   

8. Is there two-factor authentication and role-based access?
   (You don’t want everyone on your team seeing everything.)
   

9. Can you audit who accessed what, and when?
   (Helps you spot issues before they become disasters.)
   

10. Is the pricing honest, or full of hooks?
    (No one likes to get locked out of features they assumed were included.)
    

Want a full checklist to evaluate a survey tool vendor? Download our free Survey Tool Vendor Checklist here.

Why I Recommend BlockSurvey (And What Makes It So Different)

After digging into all this, one tool stood out: BlockSurvey. It’s the only platform I’ve found that truly puts privacy, control, and simplicity front and center, without turning it into an expensive, enterprise-grade headache.

Here’s why I trust it:

You Own Your Data - Period

What you collect stays yours. No peeking, no reselling, no weird loopholes. Full control.

Everything Is End-to-End Encrypted

From the second someone clicks on your form to the moment you read it, no one else, not even BlockSurvey, can see your responses.

Zero Trackers. Zero Ads. Zero Creepiness.

BlockSurvey doesn’t bake in third-party scripts, and they don’t track your users. Your audience gets a clean, respectful experience. Most importantly, they don't push you to accept the cookies to access the website.

Fully Compliant with GDPR and HIPAA

Even if you’re just trying to “play it safe,” knowing you're covered legally is a huge relief. BlockSurvey handles it privately, safely, and as it should.

Built for Humans, Not Developers

You don’t need to write code or call in IT to launch a secure survey. It’s made for creators, coaches, consultants, small teams, people like us.

Honest Pricing, No Surprise Paywalls

You get logic, analytics, branding - all the stuff that usually gets hidden behind a paywall. This pricing just makes sense. Check out the pricing here.

Built on Solid, Secure Infrastructure

BlockSurvey runs on trusted platforms like GCP and Render. It’s not just secure - it’s professionally managed, with real-world best practices.

Final Thoughts: Privacy Shouldn’t Be a Luxury

Look, as a small business, you’re already wearing ten hats. You’re the marketer, the data steward, and the compliance officer all at once. The last thing you need is a survey tool that adds more complexity - or worse, risk.

If your current tool gives you even the slightest risk feeling, trust that instinct. You deserve something better. 

Switch to Blocksurvey! Secure, no-stress survey tool built for small businesses like yours.