Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

‘Common Grounds’

blur business coffee commerce
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Vendor Management Organizations (VMO) and First Line of Defense (FLOD) third party risk teams struggle to achieve effective collaboration. Contributors to this challenge is VMO and FLOD risk professionals see situations from different perspectives and speak a slightly different language. These dynamic impacts the ability for VMO’s to achieve the maturity necessary to deliver value while limiting the FLOD’s risk effectiveness.

The TPRM Forum recommends VMO and FLOD leaders focus on the following areas to establish ‘Common Ground’.

  1. Vendor Categorization:
    • Mature VMO’s establish vendor classifications to drive innovation and identify emerging technologies to support the road map
    • FLOD and TPRM organizations categorize third parties to develop appropriate strategies based on risk dimensions
    • Making this a collaborative partnership enables VMO’s and FLOD/TPRM teams to support one another while establishing a more comprehensive strategic view of risk
  2. Contract Currency:
    • FLOD and TPRM teams continually monitor regulatory bulletins and guidance to identify potential impact to evidence and compliance requirements.
    • VMO’s continually strive to ensure Terms & Conditions, KPI’s and service definitions are driving the desired behavior.
    • Working in unison with Procurement and legal, VMO’s and FLOD/TPRM can continually focus revisions and updates to maintain contract currency
  3. Partner Monitoring:
    • VMO’s focus on continuing improvement (CI) and achieving greater savings and performance.
    • FLOD/TPRM teams focus on monitoring compliance and adherence to stated requirements
    • Working together, understanding one another’s monitoring focus and activities while sharing details of assessment activities provides additional data points.

The TPRM Forum’s PULSE Assessment provides an excellent foundation to forge a strong alignment of VMO and FLOD teams to support business expectations and manage risk exposure.

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

Software Asset Management – Audit Susceptibility

CoverSusceptibility is defined as ‘the state or fact of being likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing’.

In the case of a software audit, Susceptibility is the likely severity, disruption and extent of financial exposure a firm may experience in the event a software publisher issues an audit notice. Negotiating the reduction or elimination of software audit findings, while valuable, is NOT Software Asset Management.

Effective SAM requires careful orchestration, monitoring and entitlement management. SAM encompasses successful alignment of policy, procedures, controls, procurement, IT and PMO processes with rapid infraction identification. Properly executed, SAM not only minimizes audit exposure, it delivers efficiency of software investment.

Like regulators such as the OCC, CFPB and others examining compliance, software publishers produce significant Third Party Risk exposure requiring proactive and dynamic management. The TPRM Forum is pleased to share the introduction of the Audit Susceptibility Index ™ assessment designed to help SAM operations identify the actions and tactics to mature their operations and establish enhanced productivity and efficiency.

For additional information on how we can support your SAM needs, please use the CONTACT page.

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

When did TPRM become a Tool-Centric Discussion?

TPRM DecomposedThe Third Party Risk Management community is dominated by content focused on GRC and TPRM technology tools. White papers, research reports, web-ex presentation fill our in-box daily. Each claiming unmatched ability to solve our challenges.

What is missing from this ongoing barrage is guidance and best practices on how TPRM leaders can successfully leverage to support the other key elements of TPRM operations. Best Practices such as:

·         How TPRM leaders can effectively build organizations and operations integrated with business operations, procurement, VMO and legal.

·         How the tool can enable quick, accurate and dynamic monitoring combined with the other activities such as RCSA’s and contract triggers to provide a single risk view.

·         How do we establish rapid, ‘fast-track’ risk processes to meet business expectation

·         How to integrate existing tools to maximize investment

TPRM leaders understand the importance of the TPRM platform, but it is an enabler, not the complete required solution. Let’s build on this foundation and expand the discussion to encompass a comprehensive TPRM solution!

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

TPRM-VMO: A Single Team Mindset

pexels-photo-262524.jpegIn a recent survey conducted by the Technology TPRM Forum, Third Party Risk leaders indicated a growing focus on establishing strong partnerships with internal vendor management teams. This was identified as the top action with the intended benefit being able to more effectively support business demand.

actions

While the value of an aligned VMO-FLOD is clear, reality of establishing the needed collaboration remains elusive.

  • Vendor Management teams must become more aware of risk as a necessary dimension to incorporate in their operations and not view FLOD representatives as an extension of internal audit.
  • FLOD team members must bring value, enabling the VMO to meet business demands with risks assessment and monitoring integrated into operational process.
  • VMO must see value – FLOD must establish credibility.

Essentially an environment of trust and an appreciation for one others perspective is required to pull the team together.  Without this foundation, no level of effort will yield the necessary results. FLOD will take on more of an oversight function, impacting SLOD effectiveness and ultimately lessening the contribution of audit.

The Technology TPRM Forum intends to conduct a follow-up survey among TPRM and VMO leaders to identify specific best practices being leveraged today to form a strong, productive VMO/TPRM bond.

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

TPRM Survey Respondent Profile

cropped-tprm-forum-logo-21.png

Thank you to the 114 risk professionals who completed the IT-TPRM.com survey on the impact of Digital Transformation on TPRM operations. The survey is now closed and we have initiated analysis of the results but wanted to share the typical profile or average demographics of the respondent.

Respondents to the IT-TPRM.com survey are:

  • Members of their TPRM organization
  • Work in the banking and capital market segment
  • On average, have $100 billion assets under management
  • Is being impacted by digital transformation
  • Cloud is the leading digital technology impacting operations
  • Primary operational focus is accelerating support of business operations
  • Most concerned about identifying 4th and 5th parties for business continuity
  • Believes regulators will increasingly focus on capacity and concentration of third parties

We will release final survey results and analysis next week!

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

TPRM-Business Continuity Disconnect?

BC3

The IT-TPRM.com survey on the impact of Digital Transformation ask respondents the specific areas and activities TPRM leaders are taking with regards to Business Continuity. Results so far show a significant separation between oversight and governance tactics versus operational engagement. It appears TPRM professionals have limited interest or involvement in areas necessary to execute the business continuity plan, preferring to focus on assessing effectiveness of contract terms, identification of sub-contractors and alignment across parties.

Do you agree? Does this lead to ineffective business continuity? Does this create an unnecessary void between TPRM and operational execution?  Should the FLOD be more engaged in scenario and BIA development?

Please take the survey and share your opinion.

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

Are TPRM Leaders Underestimating Blockchain Impact?

Digital Tech Analysis - Q2

Responses continue to stream in for the IT-TPRM.com survey on the impact of Digital Transformation on TPRM operations. We remain on track to share the full survey Mid-June!

The survey ask respondents to identify the digital technology dynamics impacting their organization currently or in the coming 12 months. To no surprise, Cloud, Cybersecurity  & Automation are consistently identified as the technologies of greatest impact. The surprise so far is how low Blockchain is trending as a key area of focus for TPRM leaders.

At the recent RMW GCOR conference, during the regulator panel they stated the areas of great focus and interest is Cloud, Automation & Distributed Ledger (Blockchain). Are TPRM leaders not seeing what is emerging on the horizon or not clear as yet how it will impact their operations? Share your thoughts! Please take 3 1/2 minutes to take the survey.

Take the Survey

 

Posted on by Jim Hussey - TRPM Blogger

IT-TPRM Survey: Impact of Digital Transformation

white ipad
Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

Help us identify emerging best practices!

IT-TPRM.com has developed a targeted survey with the input and support of multiple TPRM leaders. The purpose of the survey is to identify emerging best practices being employed by TPRM teams to effectively meet the demands of digital transformation. Our plan is to share the complete research results by the end of June with the full TPRM community. Hopefully the results will help risk leaders fine tune their current digital agenda and bring enhanced value to the business.

Thank you for taking 4 minutes to answer the 10 questions on the survey. All results are anonymous and will be reported in aggregate.

Survey Link