To ensure they follow your protocols, you need to first screen and evaluate who they are before partnering them. This is to lower the chances of them being careless and not adhering people. You should also draft a strict contract before signing them on. This is so that they would know what they must do and what are the consequences of breaching the contract. You must also always monitor the activity of your system. This is to help you to detect any anomalies or strange usage activities that could indicate a cyber attack.

Third-party vendors can pose significant security risks if they don’t adhere to your protocols. To mitigate this, establish clear security requirements in contracts, conduct regular audits, and implement continuous monitoring. Require vendors to comply with industry standards, undergo security training, and use multi-factor authentication. Foster transparency through regular communication and incident response planning. By integrating vendors into your security framework and enforcing compliance, you minimize risks and strengthen your overall cybersecurity posture.

Managing vendor security is a continuous, proactive process. I begin with due diligence, evaluating certifications, incident history, and security policies to understand each vendor's strengths and vulnerabilities. Contracts clearly define security Expectations, data protection standards, and incident reporting obligations guide my actions. I enforce regular audits and continuous monitoring and require compliance with standards such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2, along with ongoing training. Coordinated incident response plans ensure prompt action if issues arise, while open and regular communication builds trust and keeps both parties aligned on evolving threats.

We had that issue exactly and sometimes we are that third party. We've done a few things: 1. We are always working on separate systems or a shared system that is outside of both or organizations. 2. We built a system that is used by us and the third party and only relevant information is on that system. 3. Only a few people of both parties can use that system with very limited permissions and no more than 2 admins, all from the first party. 4. For synchronizations, we use a system built especially for us to export all data to spread sheet that can be used by the other party to import to their system, unless their system is capable to use our APIs and then is all automatic.