Initial Scoping and Requirement Gathering
- Understanding the client's business objectives, critical assets, and existing security posture.
- Identification of sensitive data flows, high-risk areas, and third-party integrations.
- Customizing the assessment framework based on industry-specific requirements.
Vendor Profiling and Scope Definition
- Identification of all third-party vendors and partners with access to sensitive data or systems.
- Categorization of vendors based on criticality, access levels, and potential impact.
- Defining the scope of assessment (network access, cloud services, on-premise interactions).
Baseline Security Assessment
- Conducting an initial baseline assessment to understand current security maturity.
- Benchmarking against industry standards such as NIST, CIS, and ISO.
- Highlighting key gaps before initiating detailed third-party risk assessments.
Review of Third-Party Security Policies and Certifications
- Collecting and reviewing the vendor's security policies, compliance certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, etc.).
- Ensuring vendors adhere to contractual obligations regarding data security and regulatory compliance.
- Validating the vendor’s disaster recovery, incident response, and business continuity plans.