Managing third-party risks: approaches and best practices

Governance

Third-party relationships introduce significant risks across cyber security, procurement, legal, privacy, data governance, and HR. Organisations must adopt structured approaches to mitigate these risks while maintaining operational efficiency. This table summarises different risk management strategies, their advantages, and their limitations.

Third-party risk management approaches

 

Approach Description Advantages Disadvantages
Centralised A single team manages all third-party risks across the organisation.
  • Standardised risk frameworks ensure consistency.
  • Stronger executive oversight and reporting.
  • Greater contract negotiation leverage.
  • Slower response times due to centralised approvals.
  • Potential misalignment with specific business unit risks.
  • High initial setup costs.
Decentralised Each business unit independently manages its third-party risks.
  • Faster decision-making tailored to business needs.
  • Greater flexibility for industry-specific risks.
  • Reduces bottlenecks in risk assessment.
  • Inconsistent risk methodologies across units.
  • Duplication of efforts leads to inefficiencies.
  • Weak enterprise-wide governance and visibility.
Hybrid Central governance sets policies, while business units execute risk management within guidelines.
  • Standardisation with operational flexibility.
  • Business units can respond quickly while aligning with enterprise policies.
  • Encourages collaboration between risk, compliance, and procurement teams.
  • Requires strong coordination and governance.
  • Potential gaps if oversight is weak.
  • Rigid policies may create compliance challenges.

 

Organisations must align their third-party risk management approach with their risk appetite, operational needs, and regulatory requirements. While a centralised model ensures consistency, decentralisation offers flexibility. A hybrid model often provides the best balance. Regardless of approach, integrating role-specific risk management strategies is essential for comprehensive protection.

How does your organisation manage third-party risks? Share your approach in the comments or reach out for a discussion on best practices.


Kat McCrabb

Kat McCrabb

11 Mar 2025

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