Build an evidence ledger first
For each question, create a row for the customer’s wording, the product boundary, approved response, source location, check date, owner, and remaining qualification. Answer only the scope asked. A statement about a hosted application does not automatically answer a question about a model provider, a customer-managed deployment, or a subprocesser.
The Cloud Security Alliance publishes AI control and questionnaire resources. Use the current licensed material as the framework reference, then write your own response worklist rather than reproducing the questionnaire.
Sources: Cloud Security Alliance AI Controls Matrix and AI-CAIQ · NIST AI Risk Management Framework
Response pattern
| Question area | Response structure | Evidence needed |
|---|---|---|
| Data use | State data type, purpose, retention, and exclusions | Data-flow and retention source |
| Access | State identity, authorization, and review boundary | Access-control source |
| Model behavior | State intended use and documented limits | Model / product documentation |
| Incident handling | State the supported process and owner | Current policy or runbook |
| Subprocessors | State the applicable list or open gap | Current legal / trust source |
Sources: Cloud Security Alliance AI Controls Matrix and AI-CAIQ · NIST AI Risk Management Framework
Illustrative answer
Illustrative worked example. Names, volumes, dates, and outcomes are fictional; replace them with approved evidence before use.
Question: ‘How do you control access to customer files used for AI-assisted retrieval?’ Response: ‘The pilot design permits retrieval only for authenticated users assigned to the approved workspace role. The submitted architecture must identify the file store, retention rule, and audit event. This response does not cover a customer-managed model endpoint until that deployment has its own documented boundary.’ The response is cautious because architecture and product policy, not a generic AI claim, determine the answer.
Sources: Supabase: securing data · OpenAI vector stores API reference
Do not do this
- Do not answer ‘yes’ because a vendor advertises encryption or AI safety.
- Do not promise certification, legal compliance, or a control that has not been verified for the relevant scope.
- Do not turn an unanswered question into a sales objection response.
- Route material gaps to the engineering, security, legal, or privacy owner.
Sources: Cloud Security Alliance AI Controls Matrix and AI-CAIQ · NIST AI Risk Management Framework
Sources and dates
- Cloud Security Alliance AI Controls Matrix and AI-CAIQ ↗
Framework link retained for the current licensed materials; confirm the edition before use.
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework ↗
Primary framework reference for governance and risk discussions.
Reviewed 2026-09-08 - Supabase: securing data ↗
Official guidance on RLS and server-side access patterns.
Reviewed 2026-09-08 - OpenAI vector stores API reference ↗
Official reference for file-backed vector stores and search.
Reviewed 2026-09-08
Found an error or a changed source? Send a correction.
Apply this to your company
Prepare materials for your next buyer conversation.
Accountmade helps technical B2B teams prepare demo decks, technical blueprints, business cases and security materials.
Explore Accountmade →