Security rating services (SRS) like BitSight, SecurityScorecard, and UpGuard were a game-changer when they first emerged — providing a fast, external view of an organisation’s cyber posture using publicly available data.
But in 2025, many organisations are finding these tools aren’t enough. On their own, they offer shallow insight, delayed data, and no context — leaving critical gaps in your third-party risk management (TPRM) programme.
If you’re relying solely on SRS tools for supplier due diligence, you may be missing serious risk — and potentially failing to meet regulatory or insurance expectations.
What SRS Tools Do Well
✅ Provide a baseline signal of exposed vulnerabilities
✅ Track some external hygiene metrics (e.g. SSL certs, DNS config)
✅ Monitor known IPs and domains for reputation issues
✅ Offer benchmarking against industry averages
✅ Deliver automated scoring to prioritise vendors
They’re useful for broad coverage — especially across large vendor estates. But they’re only part of the picture.
The Limitations of SRS in 2025
🚨 Delayed data – Some scores are updated monthly or quarterly, missing fast-moving threats
🔒 No internal view – They can’t assess access controls, patching cadence, or breach response readiness
📦 Blind to shared systems – Can’t see exposure from subcontractors or shared infrastructure
🔧 Lack of actionable detail – Often flag an issue without enough context to remediate
⚖️ Regulators are sceptical – Frameworks like NIS2 and DORA expect more than surface-level ratings
In short, scores ≠ security.
Real-World Consequences
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A payment provider passed SRS checks but failed to disclose its dependence on a breached CRM system
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A logistics partner scored “green” but was running legacy VPN software with known vulnerabilities
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A retail group suffered a breach when a vendor’s expired certificate — flagged by SRS — went unaddressed
These tools didn’t cause the incidents — but they didn’t prevent them either.
What Robust TPRM Requires Now
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Contextual analysis – Understand the supplier’s actual risk to your environment
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Continuous assessment – Not just annual questionnaires or passive scores
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Supply chain mapping – Who does your supplier rely on? Are those third parties secure?
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Insurability insight – Can this supplier support your insurance obligations?
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Actionable intelligence – Data that helps you reduce risk, not just report on it
How Cyber Tzar Goes Beyond Security Ratings
We provide a deeper view of third-party risk:
✅ Real-time scans of supplier infrastructure
✅ Supply chain mapping (Tier 2 and Tier 3 relationships)
✅ Benchmarking and comparison across sectors
✅ Risk scoring with context — not just colours
✅ Outputs aligned to Cyber Essentials, NIS2, and insurance criteria
Whether you’re augmenting an SRS tool or replacing it, we give you the detail that scores can’t.
🔎 Want to know what your SRS isn’t showing you?
Start a supplier scan at cybertzar.com
