Frequently Asked Questions
StackUp provides a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of technology and technology function processes, including strategy, employee engagement, service delivery, and innovation—not just security and compliance.
Our platform provides human-led, actionable insights, and supports informed decision making at every level, from Technology Leaders, to C-Level Executive to Board Members and Investors.
The assessment is designed to support accurate submissions regardless of knowledge level with "Don't Know" options ensuring no one feels pressured to guess.
This gap in knowledge being identified is valuable - a gap in knowledge which can be addressed through our insights and recommendations.
We recommend StackUp be used quarterly or when major initiatives are completed to monitor and improve your technology function. Regular use helps ensure that your strategies remain aligned with industry best practices and that any emerging issues are promptly addressed.
Yes! StackUp offers a free version that provides access to a basic report. Additional features and insights are available through our premium benchmarking, allowing you to deepen your analysis as your needs grow.
The effectiveness of the assessment relies on honest submissions to provide accurate and actionable insights.
To support this, we include "Don't Know" as an option for questions where clarity is lacking, encouraging transparency rather than guesswork.
Additionally, our validation and insights service help identify inconsistencies or areas requiring further clarification to ensure the results are both accurate and credible.
The assessment also has built-in mechanisms to detect logical inconsistencies or conflicting responses. Such inconsistencies are flagged during our validation process, prompting deeper review and clarification.
This ensures insights drawn from the data are robust and reliable, allowing organisations to act with confidence.
Technology leaders, C-level executives, board members and venture capital and private equity investors from companies of all sizes will find value in StackUp. It’s especially beneficial for those looking to identify areas for improvement, justify budget requests, and enhance overall technology performance.
We employ robust security measures to ensure that all user data is encrypted, securely stored, and only accessible by authorised personnel. For any comparative purposes, all data is aggregated and anonymised to protect your privacy and confidentiality.
The StackUp Certification is a badge that organisations can earn by using our platform and achieving a level of excellence.
This certification can be shared publicly to attract investors, customers, and employees. It showcases your commitment to technical excellence and leadership in your industry.
StackUp provides a free version to get you started, and affordable pricing options for organisations of all sizes.
Excellent question. StackUp is not designed to replace you or your assessment.
It's designed to support your assessment, making it faster and easier, and providing an independent set of metrics, and recommendations for your consideration.
The StackUp report will save you hours or weeks assessing the technology fundamentals of the organisation freeing up your time to deep dive into specific areas of technology that are unique to your business.
The StackUp assessment also provides protection in the areas you may not have deep experience in. Because the metrics are independent it eliminates bias, and gives your organisation a certification you can celebrate publicly if you achieve a score of 80/100 or more.
You'll also have the opportunity to access a community of experienced, vetted specialists who can help uplift areas of your technology if you'd like external assistance.
If in doubt, schedule a session with our Strategic Technology Advisor and co-founder to find out more.
StackUp evaluates all the key areas a technology leader (CTO/CIO/IT Manager) is typically responsible for. These categories include:
- Innovation and Strategy
- Staff and Training
- Cloud and Network
- Data Security and Privacy
- Policies and Procedures
- Risk Management
- Vendor Management
- Technology Performance
Technology leaders often excel in some areas while facing challenges in others.
The StackUp assessment identifies hidden risks and highlights opportunities for improvement.
StackUp asks your technology leader 50 carefully selected questions from a pool of over 500 technology due diligence questions. These are presented in a specific order to ensure objective, comprehensive insights.
The responses are analysed through our scoring algorithm to produce a detailed report, which includes:
- A risk profile
- An overall rating of your technology function's health
- A score
- Prioritised recommendations for improvement
- Celebrations of areas where your organisation excels
This report can be shared with C-level executives, the board, investors, or potential customers to build trust and confidence.
Achieving a score of 80 or higher earns your organisation a StackUp Certification, which you can use to publicly showcase your excellence.
You can resubmit at any time to monitor progress and track improvements.
StackUp’s assessments often uncover critical issues or overlooked gaps that technology leaders may not be aware of. Every leader’s expertise varies—for example, someone with a software development background might lack deep network expertise, while a leader from a security background might overlook staff training or development.
These findings are typically straightforward but essential—issues that can be missed in the fast-paced environment of managing a technology function.
They might include existential threats, efficiency gaps, opportunities for cost savings, or performance improvements.
The true value of StackUp lies in its comprehensive yet lightweight assessment, covering the entire technology function.
Our questions have been reviewed and approved by a panel of leading CIOs and CTOs worldwide, ensuring that we focus on the metrics that matter most.
The StackUp assessment is built on 30 years of experience in technology, including 20 years in CIO and CTO roles.
This extensive expertise has been distilled into 50 carefully curated questions, designed to be completed by your technology leader in under 30 minutes.
While the assessment itself is quick, it reflects decades of experience and insights that make it both impactful and efficient.
The questions are objective and include a "Don't know" option for any unknowns, helping to identify areas where improvement is needed. In a high-performing technology function, a leader should be able to answer these questions confidently.
Once gaps are identified, your technology leader can take actionable steps and return to re-submit the assessment at any time to track progress and improvements.
StackUp's assessment will identify any gaps in the fundamental technology health of your organisation.
However, most of these problems are relatively fast and cost effective to fix, and have an enormously positive impacts on the organisation: risk reduction, cost reduction, efficiency improvements, security improvements etc.
The StackUp algorithm provides a prioritised list of items to improve so you don't have to boil the ocean - tackle one high priority item at a time and resubmit to track your improvement. You can do this internally, or leverage our independent network of specialist suppliers.
The assessment is balanced - so it also highlights areas that are performing well and that should be celebrated.
StackUp complements frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO by providing a broader perspective on technology maturity.
While certifications focus on meeting compliance and security standards, StackUp bridges the gap between compliance and excellence.
It helps organisations prepare for certifications by identifying areas that need improvement and offering actionable recommendations, making the certification process smoother and more efficient.
For certified organisations, StackUp delivers additional value through benchmarking, tailored insights, and practical guidance aligned with business goals.
By fostering continuous improvement, innovation, and scalability, StackUp enhances the value of certifications and aligns technology capabilities with broader business objectives.
While it does not replace formal certifications, it strengthens the foundation for achieving and maintaining them.
The "entire technology function" refers to all the components and responsibilities that a technology leader (CTO, CIO, IT Manager) typically oversees. StackUp evaluates key areas that make up your organisation's digital capabilities, including:
- Innovation and Strategy
- Staff and Training
- Cloud and Network
- Data Security and Privacy
- Policies and Procedures
- Risk Management
- Vendor Management
- Technology Performance
This encompasses IT infrastructure, end-user computing, software development, application support, cybersecurity, data management, project management, and technology-driven innovation.
Technology leaders often excel in certain areas while encountering challenges in others.
StackUp identifies hidden risks, highlights opportunities for improvement, and helps align your organisation's digital operations with broader business goals. In essence, the technology function is the backbone that supports your organisation’s ability to innovate, scale, and perform effectively in a competitive environment.
Even if your technology function is performing well or you are actively working on a few known issues, StackUp helps you verify and showcase your excellence. By benchmarking against industry best practices and peers, you can uncover hidden strengths, validate your strategies, and gain certification that highlights your leadership.
StackUp also identifies 'unknown unknowns'—potential risks or opportunities you may not have considered—ensuring you stay ahead of the competition and continuously improve. Every technology leader is on a journey of improvement. While you may excel in areas like software development or cloud infrastructure, there may be gaps in others, such as data privacy or training. StackUp provides a holistic view of your entire technology function, enabling informed decisions and giving you the credit you deserve for your progress and performance.