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TPM-05: Security, Compliance & Resilience Outsourcing Limitations

TPM 7 — High Govern

Mechanisms exist to ensure organizations involved in developing, implementing and/or maintaining Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) provide assurance of internal oversight capabilities that demonstrate: (1) Governance of internal controls; (2) Risk management, including analysis and mitigation activities; and (3) Compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, TPM-05 was Third-Party Contract Requirements. That control is now TPM-14.

Control Question: Does the organization ensure third-parties involved in developing, implementing and/or maintaining Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) provide assurance of internal oversight capabilities that demonstrate: (1) Governance of internal controls; (2) Risk management, including analysis and mitigation activities; and (3) Compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations?

EMEA (3)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Spain Royal Decree 311 2022 Article 14(1) Article 16(2)
EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 7 21 22 26 121 121.a 124 125 126 126.a 127 127.a 128 128.a 129 138 138.a 141.c
EMEA Saudi Arabia SAMA CSF 1.0 2017 3.4.2.3 3.4.2.3.a 3.4.2.3.b 3.4.2.3.c

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with GOV domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with GOV domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with GOV domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Governance-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists. GRC roles are assigned to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Third-Party Management (TPM) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with TPM domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TPM domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A procurement team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain TPM domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of third-party management operations (e.g., TPRM risk management solution and vendor management solution). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with TPM domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to ensure organizations involved in developing, implementing and/or maintaining Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) provide assurance of internal oversight capabilities that demonstrate: (1) Governance of internal controls; (2) Risk management, including analysis and mitigation activities; and (3) Compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. TPM-05_A01 organizations involved in developing, implementing and/or maintaining Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) provide assurance of internal oversight capabilities.
  2. TPM-05_A02 the internal oversight capabilities demonstrate governance of internal controls.
  3. TPM-05_A03 the internal oversight capabilities demonstrate risk management, including analysis and mitigation activities.
  4. TPM-05_A04 the internal oversight capabilities demonstrate compliance with applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.

Evidence Requirements

E-TPM-11 Supplier Diversity & Concentration Risk Analysis

Documented evidence of supplier diversity, adequate supply and outsourcing limitation analyses addressing single-source / concentration dependencies.

Third-Party Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Vendor due diligence checklist
  • Third-party security questionnaire (e.g., CAIQ, SIG)

Small

  • Vendor security questionnaire (CAIQ or SIG)
  • Third-party risk assessment prior to outsourcing

Medium

  • Third-party risk management program
  • Vendor security assessments with contractual security obligations
  • Contract security requirements for outsourced functions

Large

  • Third-party risk management (TPRM) program
  • Vendor SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certification requirements
  • Contractual security and compliance obligations

Enterprise

  • Enterprise TPRM program with automated vendor risk assessment
  • Third-party risk ratings (e.g., BitSight, SecurityScorecard)
  • Contractual oversight and audit rights for outsourced functions

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