TPM-23: Third-Party Attestation (3PA)
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 security, compliance and resilience controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.
Renumbered: Formerly TPM-05.8 in SCF 2025.4.
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 security, compliance and resilience controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors?
General (5)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| ISO/SAE 21434 2021 | RC-07-02 |
| MPA Content Security Program 5.3.1 | OR-3.4 PS-3.2 |
| 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.03.01.20.a A.03.01.20.b A.03.01.20.c.01 A.03.16.03.a A.03.16.03.c |
| TISAX ISA 6.0.3 | 8.2.2 |
US (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Montana CDPA 2025 | 30-14-2813(2)(e) |
| USA Nevada NOGE Reg 5 2024 | 5.260.5(c) |
EMEA (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | OIS-01.01AS OIS-01.01AC CRY-18.01B.1 SSO-01.01AC SSO-05.02B.2 SSO-05.02B.4 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 94.b 95 96 96.b 96.c 96.d 96.f 96.g |
| EMEA Qatar PDPPL 2020 | 3.11.8 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 | VII.A.TPC-20 VII.A.TPC-21 |
APAC (5)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia CCM 2026 | GOV-11 |
| APAC India RBI PA 2025 | Annex 1.1.17 |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | PR.IP.S15 PR.IP.S16 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 10.21(c) 10.49(d) A10-A4 A10-A4(b) A10-B10(c)(i) |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 8.4.9.C.01 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 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
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 obtain an attestation from an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that provides assurance of conformity with specified statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations for security, compliance and resilience controls, including any flow-down requirements to contractors and subcontractors.
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
- TPM-23_A01 statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligations requiring a conformity assessment by an independent Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) are identified.
- TPM-23_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.
- TPM-23_A03 processes, methods, and techniques to monitor security requirement compliance by external service providers on an ongoing basis are implemented.
Evidence Requirements
- E-TPM-03 Third-Party Service Reviews
-
Documented evidence of a formal, annual stakeholder review of third-party services for each External Service Provider (ESP).
Third-Party Management
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