Third-party & vendor security risk, explained
Your data is only as safe as the tools you hand it to. How to vet the vendors who hold your customer data.
Most businesses share customer data with a dozen tools without thinking about it — CRMs, email platforms, analytics, contractors. Every one of them is a place your data can leak from, and a vendor's breach becomes your breach in the eyes of your customers and the law.
How to vet a vendor
- Ask what they do with your data — where it's stored, who can see it, how long they keep it.
- Ask for their security posture — do they have SOC 2, ISO 27001, or at least clear answers about encryption and access control?
- Give them the least data they need. Don't hand over your whole customer list when a tool only needs email addresses.
- Track who has what. Keep a simple list of every tool that touches customer data.
- Remove access you no longer use. Dormant integrations are forgotten doors.
Why it matters
Under regulations like GDPR, you stay responsible for personal data even after you hand it to a processor. "Our vendor leaked it" is not a defence that satisfies your customers — or a regulator.
We can review your vendor stack and tell you which tools are quietly increasing your risk.
Want us to just handle it?
Send the details to [email protected] or book a call. We'll check it for you and fix what's exposed.