Most TPRM programs start strong. They send out detailed onboarding questionnaires. They classify vendors by risk tier. They check all the boxes for initial due diligence.
And then they move on.
But risk doesn’t end once the vendor signs. It evolves. Systems change. People leave. Subcontractors get introduced. Threat landscapes shift. And if your TPRM program isn’t keeping pace, those early checks won’t mean much down the line.
The Illusion of Control
One of the biggest misconceptions in third-party risk is that onboarding is the hard part. It’s certainly the most visible … the flurry of emails, the intake forms, the document reviews. But it’s also just a snapshot in time.
That SOC 2 report? It’s from 18 months ago. That data handling process? It changed after a restructuring. That key contact? They left last quarter.
Without ongoing oversight, “approved” vendors quickly become unknown entities. And unknowns are where risk hides.
Keeping the Program Alive
Sustainable third-party risk management means treating vendors like dynamic partners, not static records. It means building workflows that check in periodically, not just during renewal season. It means flagging changes to ownership, services, or security posture — and knowing what to do when those changes matter.
This doesn’t require a team of investigators. It requires a system that’s designed for continuity. Reminders, reassessments, alerts tied to key risk indicators, and integration with internal incident data can all signal when a trusted vendor deserves a second look.
Context Over Exhaustion
The answer isn’t to increase the number of questionnaires or add more manual reviews. It’s to prioritize the vendors that matter most and apply the right level of scrutiny based on their risk profile.
Too many programs treat all vendors the same, burning out teams with endless reviews of low-risk suppliers while missing the quiet creep of exposure from critical partners.
Context is everything. Focus is essential. And automation is your ally, not your replacement.
Don’t Let TPRM Go Stale
A vibrant TPRM program is one that grows with your business. It adapts to changes, surfaces insights, and holds vendors accountable – not just at the start, but throughout the relationship.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to prove you asked the right questions once. It’s to know you’d still make the same decision today.
Want to build a third-party risk program that evolves with your vendors? Let’s talk.