Third-party risk management (TPRM) has come a long way. But if your organisation is still relying solely on static security ratings to assess vendors, you’re working with an outdated map in a dynamic landscape.
In 2025, modern TPRM requires live data, contextual analysis, and continuous monitoring — not just monthly scores or checkbox questionnaires.
This article explores how security expectations have shifted, and what forward-thinking teams are doing to modernise their TPRM approach.
The Static Ratings Problem
🕒 Too slow – Security scores often lag weeks behind real-world changes
🧩 No context – A vendor’s score might drop, but is it relevant to your environment?
🔍 Surface-level only – No view of internal controls, data access, or supply chain dependencies
⚠️ False sense of security – A green rating doesn’t mean the risk is gone
📉 Non-compliant with emerging standards – DORA, NIS2, and ISO 27036 demand more than superficial assessments
Static ratings alone don’t reflect actual, evolving cyber risk.
What Modern TPRM Looks Like
Modern third-party risk management is:
✅ Continuous – Real-time scanning of public infrastructure
✅ Contextual – Understanding a supplier’s role, data access, and operational criticality
✅ Tiered – Including not just direct vendors, but their suppliers too
✅ Benchmarkable – See how your ecosystem compares to peers
✅ Integrated – Embedded in procurement, compliance, and infosec workflows
Key Features of Modern TPRM Platforms
🛠️ Automated vulnerability scanning – Track exposures without needing vendor credentials
📊 Risk scoring with remediation advice – Don’t just flag — fix
🔗 Supply chain mapping – Visualise risk beyond Tier 1 vendors
📑 Compliance evidence generation – Support for ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, DORA, and more
📥 Vendor engagement tools – Secure portals for sharing findings and collaborating on fixes
Why Static Ratings Are Being Replaced
| Legacy Model | Modern TPRM |
|---|---|
| Monthly score updates | Continuous live scanning |
| One-size-fits-all scoring | Sector- and context-aware assessments |
| Questionnaire-only due diligence | Automated verification with real data |
| Audit-driven cycle | Integrated into daily risk operations |
| Score snapshots | Time-series trends and risk trajectories |
How Cyber Tzar Supports Modern TPRM
Cyber Tzar is designed for the new era of TPRM:
✅ Scans suppliers continuously
✅ Maps risk beyond direct vendors
✅ Prioritises based on access, data sensitivity, and exposure
✅ Delivers sector-specific benchmarking and insurer-ready reporting
✅ Helps teams align with DORA, NIS2, ISO 27036, and Cyber Essentials Plus
We help organisations go from passive oversight to active risk management.
🌐 Ready to modernise your third-party risk approach?
Book a supply chain scan at cybertzar.com
