Governance, Risk & Compliance
Third-Party Risk Management Framework
Design of a practical third-party risk management framework to assess, tier, and monitor vendors so supplier relationships do not become your weakest link.
Overview
A third-party risk management framework gives you a repeatable way to understand and control the risk your vendors and suppliers introduce. It answers which third parties matter most, how to assess them proportionately, and how to monitor them over the life of the relationship.
The framework covers vendor inventory, risk tiering, due diligence, contractual security requirements, and ongoing monitoring. Scope is tailored to your supplier landscape and existing procurement and governance processes so the framework is practical to run.
Benefits
- Establishes a clear vendor inventory and risk-based tiering model.
- Applies proportionate due diligence so effort matches the risk each vendor presents.
- Embeds security requirements into contracts and vendor onboarding.
- Sets up ongoing monitoring so third-party risk stays visible over time.
Methodology
- 01
Vendor Inventory
Build or refine an inventory of third parties and the data and services they touch.
- 02
Risk Tiering
Classify vendors by criticality and data sensitivity to set the level of scrutiny for each.
- 03
Due Diligence Design
Define assessment questionnaires and evidence expectations proportionate to each tier.
- 04
Contractual Requirements
Define security and privacy clauses and onboarding steps to embed requirements early.
- 05
Ongoing Monitoring
Establish review cycles and triggers to reassess vendors as relationships and risk change.
- 06
Governance and Reporting
Define roles, escalation, and reporting so third-party risk stays visible to leadership.
Deliverables
- 01Third-Party Risk Management Framework Document
- 02Vendor Tiering Model
- 03Due Diligence Questionnaire Set
- 04Vendor Risk Register
- 05Executive Briefing
Related governance, risk & compliance services
- Risk AssessmentsBusiness-aligned information security risk assessments using ISO/IEC 27005:2022 and NIST SP 800-30 to identify, analyze, and prioritize risk so leaders can make informed decisions.
- Compliance AssessmentsStructured evaluation of your controls against the standards and regulations that apply to you, with a clear view of current posture, gaps, and the actions needed to close them.
- PCI DSS ReadinessPreparation for PCI DSS v4.0.1, helping you scope the cardholder data environment, close control gaps, and get ready for formal assessment by a Qualified Security Assessor.