Scoping is a critical step in third party assessments, as it determines the scope and depth of the assessment based on the inherent risk, impact, and complexity of the vendor relationship. Scoping helps to ensure that the assessment is relevant, efficient, and consistent with the outsourcer's risk appetite and objectives. Scoping also helps to avoid over or under assessing the vendor, which could result in unnecessary costs, delays, or gaps in risk management. Scoping is not a one-time activity, but rather an ongoing process that should be reviewed and updated throughout the vendor lifecycle. Scoping should be aligned with the outsourcer's third party risk management framework and policies, and follow the best practices and guidelines provided by the Shared Assessments Program and other industry standards. References:
* 1: THIRD PARTY RISK MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT - Shared Assessments, pages 4-6
* 2: How Dynamic Scoping Can Improve Vendor Risk Assessments - ProcessUnity
* 3: Inherent Risk Tiering for Third-Party Vendor Assessments - MindPoint Group