What to Ask Your Tech Team About Software Security (Even If You’re Not Technical)
You don’t need to be technical to ask smart questions about software security. In fact, some of the most important conversations about risk and protection start at the leadership level. Business owners and executives have every right — and responsibility — to understand how their technology is safeguarded.
Start by asking this: “What is our current approach to keeping our software secure?” This question alone can reveal how proactive your team is. Do they mention regular updates, security tools, testing, and documentation? Or do they fumble to answer?
Next, inquire about access. “Who has admin access, and how often is that reviewed?” Access control is a fundamental piece of software security. If old employees or contractors still have access, you're exposed.
Then ask: “How do we stay up to date on security risks?” Your tech team should be monitoring known vulnerabilities in libraries, frameworks, and third-party systems. If you’re using popular open-source tools, someone needs to be tracking security updates.
Don’t forget incident response: “What’s our plan if something goes wrong?” Whether it’s a bug, a breach, or a DDoS attack, you need a plan. Having a response plan shows maturity and readiness — not paranoia.
Finally, ask: “When was the last time we did a software audit?” Regular audits are like health check-ups — they help detect and prevent problems before they spread.
At SafeDevs, we help business leaders ask the right questions and understand the answers. Our consultants work with your team to uncover weaknesses, implement secure practices, and provide clarity — no jargon required.
You don’t need to write code to lead secure development. You just need to know what to ask.