How to address challenges for digital transformation and third-party risks

Digital transformation is apparent in every sector and business. The expansion of digital platforms and interconnected systems has not only profited businesses in terms of their growth and scalability but also raised the likelihood of potential threats. Concerns around cybersecurity risks, data breaches, regulatory risks, and other third-party frauds have increased with digitization. Third parties, be they vendors, merchants, suppliers, partners, etc., often have access to sensitive information and become potential vectors for fraudulent activities, necessitating organisations to adopt a more robust approach to risk management with tech-driven due diligence strategies.

Within the landscape of third-party due diligence and risk management, we can see the considerable attention directed towards data privacy laws, third-party risks, as well as the complexities associated with cross-border operations and varying regulations. As we move into 2024, the question arises: How can businesses tackle these challenges and navigate the intricacies of third-party risk management? Let’s delve deeper!

In recent times, we witnessed how retail and manufacturing space rebounded and surged to new heights, resulting in the bulk onboarding of third parties to meet the growing demands. High demand also somewhere attracted potential threats in the form of businesses with potential criminal histories, underscoring the critical need for third-party due diligence and risk management. In response to the challenges faced in the previous years, companies are increasingly turning to technology and automation to centralize and streamline the due diligence process for third parties. The objective is clear: ensuring efficiency in third-party risk management while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and integrity. A comprehensive AI-powered TPRM solution proves to be an invaluable asset, facilitating end-to-end onboarding journeys, automating labour-intensive document collection and validations, legal documentation and signatures, and conducting identity, criminal, and court records checks efficiently and seamlessly. AI is emerging as a game-changer, outperforming traditional approaches by bringing forth advanced features such as risk scoring, compliance tracking, and customizable workflows. These features not only expedite the due diligence process but also equip organizations with a more nuanced and informed understanding of potential risks.

There has been a noticeable trend of businesses departing from the traditional practice of conducting due diligence solely at the time of onboarding. With continuous monitoring, businesses actively track changes in a third-party risk’s posture that might affect their reliability and identify potential threat factors or instances before they escalate. Suppose any third party engages in criminal activity, engages in a lawsuit, experiences financial distress, or undergoes a change in ownership. Continuous monitoring supplemented with real-time checks promptly detects and responds to any deviations from established security standards and significantly reduces the likelihood of unforeseen risks or disruptions.

Now, with business operations extending beyond borders, the role of third-party relationships has never been more pronounced. However, this expansion brings with it a multitude of regulatory challenges and more space for risks and fraudulent activities. Global compliance tracking emerges as a cornerstone in fortifying against third-party risks.

Comprehensive due diligence solutions have an essential role to play in identifying potential risks associated with third parties operating in diverse global markets. It contributes to proactively aligning with the regulatory requirements of new markets, reducing the friction associated with compliance hurdles, and streamlining third-party entry into different regions and markets. Given the competitive landscape, organizations must stay informed about global laws affecting third-party relationships to ensure they adhere to evolving standards and mitigate legal risks. 

The year 2023 witnessed a significant focus on data privacy laws to protect sensitive information, and we believe this is just the beginning of bringing more stringent data privacy protocols. With a surge in fraudulent activities and data breaches, businesses are compelled to intensify their commitment to robust data protection regulations, data minimization practices, consent-driven data collection, and periodic security audits to fortify their third-party risk management strategies. Extending the purview of data privacy also involves providing comprehensive training to internal staff on optimal data security practices and incorporating ethical background checks into routine procedures.

The ongoing digital transformation necessitates a proactive and adaptive approach to due diligence in third-party relationships. Organizations are not only recognizing the evolving risks but are also taking strategic measures to fortify their defences, ensuring that their partnerships align with heightened cybersecurity and data protection standards in this digital era.

Ajay Trehan

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Ajay Trehan- Founder and CEO of Authbridge