Skip to main content

TPM-05.8: Third-Party Attestation (3PA)

TPM 5 — Medium Govern

Mechanisms exist to obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.

Control Question: Does the organization obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors?

General (6)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.20.a 03.01.20.b 03.01.20.c.01 03.16.03.a 03.16.03.c
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.16.03.c
TISAX ISA 6 8.2.2
SCF CORE Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures (MA&D) TPM-05.8
SCF CORE ESP Level 2 Critical Infrastructure TPM-05.8
SCF CORE ESP Level 3 Advanced Threats TPM-05.8
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
US - NV NOGE Reg 5 5.260.5(c)
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC India SEBI CSCRF PR.IP.S15 PR.IP.S16
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 03.01.20.A 03.01.20.B 03.01.20.C.01 03.16.03.A 03.16.03.C

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Third-Party Management (TPM) efforts are requirements-driven and governed at a local/regional level, but are not consistent across the organization. CMM Level 2 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist: o Require TSP to follow secure engineering practices as part of a broader Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) initiative. o Contain "break clauses" in all TSP contracts to enable penalty-free, early termination of a contract for cause, based on the TSP's cybersecurity and/ or data protection practices deficiency(ies).

  • Third-party management is decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
  • IT/cybersecurity personnel identify cybersecurity and data protection controls to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements for third-party management.
  • A procurement function maintains a list of all active Third-Party Service Providers (TSP), including pertinent contract information that will assist in a risk assessment.
  • A Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM) is documented for every TSP that directly or indirectly affects sensitive/regulated data.
  • Procurement contracts:
Level 3 — Well Defined

Third-Party Management (TPM) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist: o provides governance oversight for the implementation of applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual cybersecurity and data protection controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and safety of the organization's applications, systems, services and data with regards to third-party management. o Operates the Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program to identify and mitigate supply chain-related risks and threats. o Evaluates risks associated with weaknesses or deficiencies in supply chain elements identified during first and/ or third-party reviews. o Enables the implementation of third-party management controls. o Ensures the Information Assurance Program (IAP) evaluates applicable cybersecurity and data protection controls as part of “business as usual” pre-production testing. o Maintains a list of all active Third-Party Service Providers (TSP), including pertinent contract information that will assist in a risk assessment. o Requires TSP to follow secure engineering practices as part of a broader Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) initiative. o Includes "break clauses" in all TSP contracts to enable penalty-free, early termination of a contract for cause, based on the TSP's cybersecurity and/ or data protection practices deficiency(ies). o Controls changes to services by suppliers, taking into account the criticality of business information, systems and processes that are in scope by the third-party. o Requires a risk assessment prior to the acquisition or outsourcing of technology-related services. o Monitors, regularly reviews and audits supplier service delivery for compliance with established contract agreements. o Uses tailored acquisition strategies, contract tools and procurement methods for the purchase of unique systems, system components or services.

  • Procurement contracts and layered defenses provide safeguards to limit harm from potential adversaries who identify and target the organization's supply chain.
  • A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) function, or similar function;
  • A procurement team, or similar function:
  • A Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM) is documented for every TSP that directly or indirectly affects sensitive/regulated data.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for cybersecurity and data protection controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.

Assessment Objectives

  1. TPM-05.8_A01 statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligations requiring a conformity assessment by an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) are identified.
  2. TPM-05.8_A02 a current and passing conformity assessment by an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) exists for each applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligation requiring a 3PAO's attestation.
  3. TPM-05.8_A03 processes, methods, and techniques to monitor security requirement compliance by external service providers on an ongoing basis are implemented.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Small

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Medium

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Large

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Enterprise

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

Manage this control in SCF Connect

Track implementation status, collect evidence, and map controls to your compliance frameworks automatically.