> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.visotrust.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Answering Questionnaires > How VISO TRUST questionnaires get answered — automatically by Artifact Intelligence using existing documents, or by vendors in the collection portal. Questionnaires in VISO TRUST can be answered in two ways: automatically by Artifact Intelligence using existing documentation, or directly by the vendor through the collection portal. This page covers both paths — including the full vendor experience from receiving a request to submitting a response. ## AI-Answered Questionnaires When a questionnaire is configured with **Answer with AI**, Artifact Intelligence attempts to answer each question automatically using artifacts already available for the vendor — from prior assessments, public sources, or the vendor's Trust Profile. This approach: * Requires no effort from the vendor * Completes in seconds * Works best when the vendor has submitted high-quality documentation that addresses the questions If the AI can't confidently answer a question from available evidence, that question remains unvalidated and may trigger a follow-up to the vendor. ## Vendor-Answered Questionnaires When a questionnaire requires direct vendor response, it is included in the collection request sent to the vendor. The vendor completes it through the **collection portal** — a secure, guided interface they access via email. ### The Vendor Experience The vendor receives an email with a link to the collection portal and a one-time passcode. The email may also include a personal message from your team. The vendor enters their passcode and arrives at the portal landing page, which shows: * Your organization's name (and branding, if configured) * A summary of what's being requested * Options to get started, request more time, forward the request, or opt out The portal clearly distinguishes between: * **Scope-based requests** — standard document types determined by the assessment framework (SOC 2 reports, security policies, etc.) * **Specific artifact requests** — named documents or additional materials your team requested for this relationship * **Questionnaire questions** — written questions requiring direct responses The vendor works through the questionnaire, providing a response to each question. For each one they: * Select a response from the available options * Add a description to provide context or clarification When complete, the vendor reviews and certifies that their responses are accurate, then submits. VISO TRUST immediately begins processing the response. ### Forwarding the Request If the vendor contact who received the request isn't the right person to answer — common when requests go to a sales contact instead of a security team — the vendor can forward the request to a colleague directly from the portal. Changing the contact while the request is active sends a new email to the updated recipient. ### Opting Out Vendors can opt out of a collection request from the portal — intended for when they're no longer doing business with your organization. Opting out ends the assessment and cannot be undone; if it was a mistake, you'll need to start a new assessment. ## Follow-Up Questionnaires After the initial assessment review, if controls remain unvalidated, VISO TRUST may send a **follow-up questionnaire** targeted at the specific gaps. This is a shorter, more focused questionnaire than the initial one. Vendors have a configurable window (7 days by default) to respond to a follow-up. The portal experience is the same as the initial collection request. ## Answering as a Trust Profile If your organization has a [Trust Profile](/trust-and-questionnaires/trust-profiles), documents uploaded there can be used by Artifact Intelligence to automatically answer questionnaires sent to your organization by VISO TRUST customers — without any manual effort. This is the primary benefit of maintaining a complete Trust Profile: when customers assess you, the AI answers their questionnaires using your pre-uploaded documentation rather than requiring your security team to respond manually to each request. ## Tracking Responses For questionnaires sent to vendors, track response status in the relationship's **Artifacts tab**. The questionnaire response appears as a **Questionnaire** artifact with its analysis status. Once processed, responses are reflected in the Risk Analysis tab. For follow-up questionnaires, the assessment status changes to **Collecting Information** while the vendor responds, and returns to **Review Started** once the response is submitted and processing begins.