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Practice Guide: Auditing Third-Party Risk Management

Guidance | October 15, 2018

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This practice guide is a useful tool to become better informed on risks related to third-party provider management. Risks across the full vendor life cycle are considered, including the appropriate sourcing, ongoing management, and termination of vendors.

Further exploration into risks resulting from the types of services being provided and the sensitivity of data being shared is covered. Sample audit guidance is offered, making this a robust resource with tangible tools.

Topics include:

  • Outlining key roles, responsibilities, and risks in managing third-party providers.
  • Defining a third-party risk audit coverage approach.
  • Developing a structure for scoping, planning, and executing third-party risk audits.
  • Appropriately engaging and assessing third-party risk management activities across the business, oversight, and control functions.
  • Determining whether the organization has a third-party risk management structure that results in a “patchwork” approach, and, if so, how to bring it together into an enterprisewide framework.

The IIA

The Institute of Internal Auditors