As a third-party risk practitioner and consultant, I’ve worked with hundreds of stakeholders across multiple industries. One of the fundamental questions I always hear is, “Who qualifies as a third party?”
It’s a great question because an organization’s third-party ecosystem encompasses much more than suppliers.
Who is a Third-Party When It Comes to Risk Management?
A third-party is any company or individual outside of your organization with whom you have entered into a business relationship – regardless of whether or not you have a formal contract.
Most organizations work with a wide range of external entities and individuals that can pose potential risks. In third-party risk management, those entities and individuals can vary depending on the nature of your business, industry, and specific operational requirements.
Here are just a handful of common categories of third parties that organizations typically need to consider when it comes to third-party risk management:
- Employee benefits administration
- Recruitment and staffing agencies
- Human resources
- Accounting
- Payroll Processing
- IT service providers
- Cloud service providers
- Software providers
- Software hosting companies
- Hardware manufacturers
- Data processing companies
- Banks and financial institutions
- Credit card processors
- Investment firms
- Credit Reporting Agencies
- Consulting firms
- Law firms
- Accounting firms
- Advertising and marketing agencies
- Raw material suppliers
- Component suppliers
- Finished goods suppliers
- Shipping and logistics companies
- Transportation providers
The sheer diversity and prevalence of third parties within most organizations can often take one by surprise. Many organizations don’t realize the extent of their engagement with third parties.
This is why it’s so important to take a comprehensive approach to third-party risk management. It’s the only way to ensure third-party risk is identified, assessed, and mitigated so that your organization is protected from the potential challenges arising from third party relationships.
Case Study: Legal & General America
What is Third-Party Risk Management?
Third-party risk management is an organization’s systematic process to monitor and mitigate potential exposure to problems, harm, or loss that may arise from interactions with third parties. The primary goal of third-party risk management is to fortify the organization against various threats, including financial instability, regulatory non-compliance, data breaches, and other vulnerabilities that might come from interactions with external partners.
The process of third-party risk management involves a series of strategic steps aimed at fostering a proactive and vigilant approach to potential challenges. Here’s an overview of a standard, six-step process.
What About Fourth Parties?
There is a component of third-party risk management that is often overlooked, and that’s the concept of fourth-party risk.
Fourth parties are the ‘vendors of your vendors.’ You don’t have a direct relationship with them, but they can pose significant risks to you.
For best practices on fourth-party risk management, check out this related post on Practical Guidelines for Managing Fourth-Party Risk.
Don’t Let Risks with Third-Parties Catch You Off Guard
Managing risk with third parties involves recognizing the expansive array of external entities that can impact your organization’s operations. From service providers and technology partners to financial institutions, the diversity of third parties is extensive and often catches organizations off guard.
To effectively manage these risks, it’s essential to take a process-driven, comprehensive approach to third-party risk management. Be proactive and vigilant to safeguard the business and build resilience against potential threats.
Want to learn more on this topic? Be sure to check out 5 Best Practices for Successful Vendor Risk Assessments and Incorporating KRIs Into Your Third-Party Risk Management Reporting.
Vendor Centric can help your organization identify and mitigate risk with your third parties, and establish solid risk management policies, procedures, and systems.
Contact us to schedule a free, no-hassle consultation to explore your needs and how we can help.
