TPM-21: Third-Party Incident Response & Recovery Capabilities
Mechanisms exist to ensure response/recovery planning and testing are conducted with critical suppliers/providers.
Renumbered: Formerly TPM-11 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization ensure response/recovery planning and testing are conducted with critical suppliers/providers?
General (16)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) | CC7.3 P6.5 P6.6 |
| CR CMM 2026 | CR7.3.6 |
| CSA IoT SCF 2 | IMT-01 OPA-05 POL-01 |
| ISO 27002 2022 | 5.19 |
| ISO 27018 2025 | 5.19 |
| NIST AI 600-1 | GV-6.2-003 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | IR-04(10) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | IR-04(10) |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | IR-04(10) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | IR-4(10) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Flow Down | IR-4(10) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | IR-4(10) |
| NIST CSF 2.0 (source) | GV.SC-08 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) | 10.7 10.7.1 10.7.2 10.7.3 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) | 10.7.2 10.7.3 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) | 10.7.1 10.7.2 10.7.3 |
US (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal NERC CIP 2024 | CIP-013-2 1.2.1 CIP-013-2 1.2.2 |
EMEA (8)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA CHE FINMA Circular 2023/1 | IV.B.d-58 |
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | SSO-01.01B.6 SSO-05.02B.3 SSO-05.01AC.3 |
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | op.ext.1 |
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 25.2(b) Article 26.2(b) Article 26.4 Article 39.2(d) Article 39.2(f) |
| EMEA EU EBA GL/2019/04 | 3.2.3.8(b) |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 | 3.2.3-8.b 3.7.3-86 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 77.l 108.c 111.b |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 | 4-1-2-2 |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 10.35(b) 10.49(c) A8-2(g) A10-B10(b)(ii) A10-B14(b) |
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
Third-Party Management (TPM) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with TPM domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Third-party management-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Third-Party Management (TPM) 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 TPM domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with TPM 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 TPM domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Third-party management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Asset management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty 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 response/recovery planning and testing are conducted with critical suppliers/providers.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Third-Party Management (TPM) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.
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
- TPM-21_A01 incident handling activities involving supply chain events are coordinated with other organizations involved in the supply chain.
Evidence Requirements
- E-TPM-04 Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
-
Documented evidence of third-party Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to support business operations.
Third-Party Management
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program
- Third-party contract requirements for cybersecurity controls
Small
- Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program
- Third-party contract requirements for cybersecurity controls
Medium
- Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program
- Third-party contract requirements for cybersecurity controls
Large
- Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program
- Third-party contract requirements for cybersecurity controls
Enterprise
- Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program
- Third-party contract requirements for cybersecurity controls