The Standardized Control Assessment is a comprehensive suite of procedures and tools designed to assist risk professionals in planning, scoping, and conducting third-party risk assessments. Serving as the "verify" component in a third-party risk management program, the SCA is typically employed after initial questionnaires, such as the Standardized Information Gathering Questionnaire, to gather and confirm artifacts that attest to the veracity of the assessment. Key Features and Functionality: - Comprehensive Assessment Procedures: The SCA provides a standardized set of assessment procedures that can be efficiently utilized during onsite or virtual assessments, as well as for auditing internal systems. - Resource-Rich Toolkit: It includes a variety of resources such as solutions, templates, checklists, and guidelines, all aimed at facilitating thorough third-party risk assessments. - Alignment with Critical Risk Domains: The SCA mirrors 21 critical risk domains from the SIG, including Access Control, Application Security, Cloud Hosting Services, Compliance Management, and Supply Chain Risk Management, among others. - Customizable Scope: Organizations can tailor the SCA to their specific needs, selecting relevant test procedures based on their unique risk factors. Primary Value and Problem Solved: The SCA addresses the challenge of efficiently and effectively verifying third-party controls within a risk management framework. By providing a standardized, comprehensive, and customizable set of assessment procedures, it enables organizations to: - Enhance Assessment Efficiency: Streamline the assessment process through standardized procedures and resources, reducing time and effort required for thorough evaluations. - Ensure Consistency and Accuracy: Promote uniformity in assessments, leading to more reliable and comparable results across different third-party engagements. - Facilitate Regulatory Compliance: Assist organizations in meeting regulatory requirements by providing a structured approach to control verification. - Adapt to Various Assessment Scenarios: Support both onsite and virtual assessments, offering flexibility in conducting evaluations regardless of logistical constraints. By integrating the SCA into their third-party risk management programs, organizations can achieve a more robust and reliable assessment process, ultimately strengthening their overall risk posture.