Vera, a leading AI-driven security questionnaire automation platform, has recently brought attention to the increasing demand for faster and less stressful compliance processes. According to Google Trends data, search interest in “security questionnaire automation” has grown by 400% year-on-year and 25% in the last quarter alone, indicating a growing recognition of the burden that security questionnaires place on organizations. This trend comes as UK workplaces continue to struggle with high levels of stress, with over 776,000 workers reporting stress, depression, or anxiety related to their jobs in 2023/24, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
The Hidden Toll of Manual Processes: The Impact of Security Questionnaires
Across the UK, security and compliance teams are dedicating significant time each week to assessing vendor risk, with a large portion of that time spent on repetitive questionnaire tasks. The Cloud Security Alliance reports that these processes can consume hours of skilled time, often under tight deadlines. For many organizations, completing questionnaires is not only time-consuming, but also disruptive, pulling staff away from their core responsibilities.
However, the shift to automation is changing this dynamic. Studies have shown that automated solutions can complete security questionnaires up to five times faster than manual methods, saving organizations significant time and freeing up staff for higher-value work.
“We have seen organizations reduce completion times by up to 90%,” says Manuel Martinez Chamorro, Co-founder of Vera. “When a process that previously took nearly a week can now be completed in less than a day, it completely transforms how teams allocate their time and energy.”
Saving Time = Saving Stress: The Importance of Workplace Well-being
In addition to efficiency gains, automation also offers another important benefit: reduced strain on employees. In Great Britain, 1.7 million workers reported work-related ill health in 2023/24, with 776,000 cases attributed to stress, depression, or anxiety, according to the Health and Safety Executive. These issues led to a staggering 33.7 million lost working days over the year, impacting both productivity and morale.
Workplace surveys have also shown that the UK ranks among the most stressed countries in Europe, with three-fifths of employees facing constant deadlines, two-fifths working at a high pace, and only a third having control over their workload. In this context, streamlining and automating hours of repetitive, deadline-driven tasks can have a significant impact on employees’ mental well-being. By reducing the need for overtime and weekend work, automation helps restore work-life balance while allowing staff to focus on more rewarding projects.
“We designed Vera not only to speed up workflows, but also to protect employees’ well-being,” says Manuel. “By transforming hours of repetitive work into a process that can be completed in under 24 hours, we are not just promoting efficiency, but also giving people back their time, focus, and peace of mind.”
Gaining an Edge in Business: Faster Deals and Protected Productivity
Manual security questionnaires often act as bottlenecks in vendor onboarding, causing delays in projects and slowing down sales cycles. Each day spent chasing answers or verifying details can result in lost momentum, missed opportunities, and frustrated stakeholders. By automating these processes, organizations can remove a significant obstacle to business growth.
Across the industry, more and more organizations are realizing that reducing the manual workload not only speeds up response times, but also improves agility, increases deal velocity, and minimizes the risk of errors that can derail a contract at the final stage. Faster and more accurate responses build trust with potential clients and keep negotiations moving forward.
“Automation is not just about efficiency – it is also a competitive advantage,” adds Manuel. “With Vera, companies can close deals faster, avoid burnout, and scale securely.”
From Burnout to Balanced Workflows
Security questionnaires have long been seen as a necessary but draining part of doing business – essential for risk management, but often a source of delays and staff burnout. Automation offers a way to maintain a thorough process while reducing the repetitive burden on teams. By speeding up completion times, organizations can minimize disruptions to day-to-day operations, ease deadline pressures, and create space for employees to focus on higher-value work.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.