What does due diligence mean in software engineering?

In software engineering, due diligence refers to thorough testing, code review, and security assessment before deploying or integrating new code or third-party systems. It ensures that all potential risks are identified and documented.

How do you use due diligence in a sentence at work?

Always use it as a noun with a verb like 'conduct' or 'perform'. Example: 'We conducted due diligence on the cloud provider' or 'The due diligence findings showed we should delay the launch.' Avoid using it as a verb (e.g., do not say 'we need to due diligence this').

Is due diligence formal or informal?

Due diligence is formal business language. Use it in meetings, emails, and reports when discussing serious decisions like acquisitions, integrations, or vendor evaluations. It is less common in casual Slack conversations.

How long does due diligence typically take?

The timeline varies widely depending on complexity. A code review might take days, while acquiring a company could take weeks or months. The process should be as thorough as necessary, not rushed.

What is the difference between due diligence and a code review?

A code review is a specific technical check of code quality and correctness. Due diligence is broader and can include security audits, compliance checks, vendor assessment, and risk analysis across multiple areas.

due diligence meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	5/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalFormal
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticNeutral
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓We need to conduct due diligence before moving forward

✓Once we complete our due diligence, we can make a decision

✓Due diligence will take another two weeks

Real examples

in a standup

"We are conducting due diligence on the third-party API before integrating it into production."

in a team meeting

"Our security team is performing due diligence on the new cloud vendor to ensure compliance."

in an email

"As part of our due diligence process, please review the vendor contract and provide feedback by Friday."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Often used as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'we need to due diligence this'). It is primarily a noun. Use 'conduct due diligence' or 'perform due diligence' instead.

✕We need to due diligence this codebase.

✓We need to conduct due diligence on this codebase.— Due diligence is a noun, not a verb. Use 'conduct', 'perform', or 'do' before it.

✕The due diligencing took three months.

✓The due diligence process took three months.— Avoid adding -ing to due diligence. It is not typically used as a gerund.

✕We did due diligence, so the project is 100% safe.

✓We conducted due diligence, which helped identify and mitigate key risks.— Due diligence identifies risks; it does not guarantee perfection or complete safety.

Other forms

noun

due diligence

"Due diligence is essential before any major acquisition."

noun phrase

due diligence process

"The due diligence process revealed several security vulnerabilities."

noun phrase

due diligence report

"The due diligence report recommends postponing the integration."

Often used with

conduct due diligenceMost common verb + noun combination; formal and professional

perform due diligenceSlightly more formal alternative to 'conduct'

do due diligenceLess formal but still acceptable in tech workplaces

due diligence processRefers to the systematic steps and procedures involved

due diligence reviewA formal examination as part of due diligence

due diligence findingsResults or conclusions from the due diligence investigation

Similar words

thorough reviewLess formal; describes the action but lacks the legal weight

investigationBroader term; due diligence is more structured and documented

assessmentSimilar meaning but less emphasis on the legal/formal obligation

vettingInformal; typically used for people or vendors, not complex projects

Opposites

negligenceoversightrecklessness

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Complete the sentence

1. Before we sign the vendor contract, the legal team must _______ on their financial stability.

Pick the most natural phrasing

2. Your manager asks about the timeline for evaluating a new framework. How do you respond?

We will due diligence it next week.We will conduct due diligence on it next week.We will due diligencing it next week.We will diligence it next week.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses 'due diligence' incorrectly?

Our team performed due diligence on the API integration.The due diligence process identified three major security risks.We need to due diligence the third-party library before using it.Once due diligence is complete, we can proceed with the acquisition.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite using 'due diligence': 'We need to carefully check the security of this vendor before we buy from them.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "due diligence" in a standup this week?

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