AI & Security
Vendor risk management for digital accreditation platforms
How to evaluate vendors that handle sensitive accreditation data.
Why this matters
Credible accreditation depends on consistent methods, clear decisions, and evidence that stands up to independent review. This publication translates essential expectations into practical steps so teams can prepare, communicate, and operate with confidence.
Key requirements and expectations
- Identify sensitive data and apply least-privilege access.
- Control third-party tools and integrations.
- Maintain incident response and recovery procedures.
- Prove security controls with evidence and testing.
- Assess vendor controls for confidentiality and integrity.
- Define SLAs for data availability and incident reporting.
- Document exit plans and data portability.
Evidence and records to prepare
- Security policies, access logs, and monitoring outputs.
- Risk assessments and vendor due diligence records.
- Incident response plans and tabletop exercises.
- Data retention and disposal procedures.
- Vendor due diligence reports and contracts.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Unmanaged access to evidence or applicant data.
- Vendor tools without contractual security controls.
- Incident response that is untested or outdated.
- Over-collection of data without a clear purpose.
- Using vendors without security obligations in contracts.
Practical checklist
- Map data flows and classify sensitive records.
- Review vendor security controls and SLAs.
- Run incident response drills and update playbooks.
- Audit access permissions on a fixed cadence.
- Review vendor security posture annually.