ISO 27001 Vendor Assessment Template

Your vendor introduces a significant number of data breaches. ISO 27001 provides the framework to measure and mitigate that risk systematically.

An ISO 27001 vendor assessment template translates the standard's 93 controls into specific questions for third-party evaluation. Instead of generic security questionnaires, you assess vendors against the same ISMS requirements your organization follows—creating consistency across your supply chain.

Financial services firms use these templates to meet regulatory requirements for vendor management programs. Healthcare organizations map HIPAA safeguards to ISO controls. Technology companies demonstrate supply chain security to enterprise customers.

The template serves as your repeatable process for vendor due diligence, control validation, and ongoing monitoring. Each vendor receives the same assessment criteria, weighted by their access to sensitive data and operational criticality.

Core Template Components

Control Categories and Assessment Structure

The ISO 27001:2022 standard organizes security controls into four themes:

Organizational Controls (37 controls)

• Information security policies
• Supplier relationship management
• Information security in project management
• Threat intelligence protocols

People Controls (8 controls)

• Background verification procedures
• Security awareness training
• Access rights management
• Confidentiality agreements

Physical Controls (14 controls)

• Physical entry controls
• Protection against environmental threats
• Clear desk and screen policies
• Secure disposal procedures

Technological Controls (34 controls)

• Access control management
• Cryptography standards
• Systems security requirements
• Vulnerability management

Each control translates into 3-5 specific assessment questions. A vendor managing payment processing receives deeper cryptography questions than one providing office supplies.

Risk Scoring Methodology

Your template must quantify vendor risk across three dimensions:

1. Inherent Risk Score

• Data classification level accessed (Public: 1, Internal: 3, Confidential: 5, Restricted: 10)
• Number of records processed annually
• Geographic locations of data processing
• Regulatory requirements applicable

2. Control Effectiveness Score

• Percentage of applicable controls implemented
• Maturity level per control (0-5 scale)
• Evidence quality rating
• Certification status weight

3. Residual Risk Calculation

Residual Risk = Inherent Risk × (1 - Control Effectiveness/100)

Vendors scoring above 7.5 require enhanced due diligence and quarterly reviews.

Industry-Specific Applications

Financial Services Implementation

Banks and investment firms map ISO 27001 controls to:

• FFIEC IT Examination requirements
• PCI DSS for payment processors
• SOX IT general controls
• SWIFT Customer Security Programme

Template modifications include:

• Enhanced cryptography requirements for payment data
• Incident response SLAs under 4 hours
• Mandatory penetration testing evidence
• Business continuity testing documentation

Healthcare Vendor Management

Healthcare organizations align ISO controls with HIPAA requirements:

ISO 27001 Control	HIPAA Safeguard	Evidence Required
A.9.1 Access Control Policy	§164.308(a)(4) Access Management	User access reviews, termination procedures
A.12.3 Information Backup	§164.308(a)(7) Contingency Plan	Backup logs, restoration tests
A.16.1 Incident Management	§164.308(a)(6) Response Procedures	Incident reports, breach notifications

Technology Sector Requirements

SaaS providers assessing sub-processors focus on:

• API security controls
• Multi-tenancy isolation
• DevSecOps practices
• Supply chain integrity

Additional controls include source code management, dependency scanning, and infrastructure-as-code security.

Compliance Framework Alignment

SOC 2 Mapping

ISO 27001 controls map to Trust Service Criteria:

Security (CC6.1-CC6.8)

• Logical access controls
• Encryption requirements
• System monitoring

Availability (A1.1-A1.3)

• Capacity management
• Incident response
• Performance monitoring

Confidentiality (C1.1-C1.2)

• Data classification
• Retention policies
• Disposal procedures

GDPR Article 32 Requirements

Technical and organizational measures align with:

• Pseudonymization capabilities (A.8.11)
• Encryption of personal data (A.8.24)
• Regular testing procedures (A.12.7)
• Data restoration capabilities (A.12.3)

Implementation Best Practices

1. Vendor Tiering Before Assessment

Classify vendors into risk tiers before sending assessments:

Tier 1: Critical Vendors

• Access to customer data
• Business-critical operations
• Annual assessments required

Tier 2: Important Vendors

• Access to internal data
• Supporting business functions
• Biennial assessments

Tier 3: Low Risk Vendors

• No data access
• Commodity services
• Triennial assessments

2. Evidence Collection Automation

Standardize evidence requirements:

• SOC 2 Type II reports (last 12 months)
• ISO 27001 certificates with scope statements
• Penetration test executive summaries
• Policy documents with revision dates

Create evidence libraries for common vendors to avoid duplicate requests.

3. Continuous Monitoring Integration

Move beyond point-in-time assessments:

• Quarterly certificate validation
• Security rating monitoring
• Breach notification alerts
• Contract renewal triggers

Common Implementation Mistakes

1. Over-Assessing Low-Risk Vendors Sending 200-question assessments to office supply vendors wastes resources. Match assessment depth to inherent risk.

2. Accepting Outdated Evidence SOC 2 reports older than 12 months don't reflect current controls. Specify evidence age requirements upfront.

3. Ignoring Sub-Processor Risk Your vendor's vendors matter. Include fourth-party risk questions for critical services.

4. Manual Control Mapping Copying responses between overlapping frameworks multiplies work. Use control inheritance where frameworks overlap.

5. Static Risk Scoring Vendor risk changes. Automate score updates based on new evidence, incidents, or scope changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions should an ISO 27001 vendor assessment include?

Between 40-120 questions depending on vendor criticality. Critical vendors receive all 93 control areas, while low-risk vendors answer 40-50 core security questions.

Can I use SOC 2 reports instead of completing the full assessment?

SOC 2 Type II reports cover approximately a large share of ISO 27001 controls. Map the report to your template and only assess gaps like physical security or HR controls.

How often should vendors complete reassessments?

Critical vendors annually, important vendors every two years, low-risk vendors every three years. Trigger immediate reassessment after security incidents or significant scope changes.

Should internal departments complete the same assessment?

Yes, but modify for internal context. Remove contract terms and SLA questions while adding budget authority and change management sections.

How do I score vendors without ISO 27001 certification?

Award partial credit for equivalent controls. NIST CSF implementation scores 80% of ISO requirement, informal but documented processes score 60%.

What's the minimum acceptable vendor score?

No universal threshold exists. Set minimums by vendor tier: Critical vendors need 85%+, important vendors 70%+, low-risk vendors 60%+.

How do I handle vendors who refuse to complete assessments?

Offer alternatives: accept recent audit reports, complete a shortened critical-controls version, or provide read-only access to their compliance portal.