Why security-only approaches are no longer enough

Today’s world requires new definitions and practices related to data privacy. Privacy risks should be considered alongside security ones, forcing organizations to rethink TPRM and DSPM through a consolidated privacy-security lens.

Protecting technical infrastructure alone no longer addresses the combined privacy and security risks organizations face. We must understand what personal data vendors access, how they use it, how it flows through their systems, and what risks arise when these processes change.

According to KPMG, over 75% of businesses consider TPRM a strategic priority. But the strategy has shifted. This guide was written to help organizations transition from security-only management of this crucial aspect to achieving full visibility and control over their organization’s security and privacy obligations.

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Building a privacy-security consolidated TPRM

To properly consider and manage third-party privacy risks, organizations have to map out who has access to their user data. That requires digging into what types of data they touch, why they need it, and whether they are sharing it further down the line.

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Vendor inventory and mapping: Which vendors remain hidden?
How many vendors access your user data? What kind of data are they pulling? Are they transferring it to other parties? Without clear answers, you are operating blindfolded. 

Traditional vendor management tools might track contracts and expiration dates, but they often miss hidden tools and services that collect or process user data. Think marketing platforms, analytics apps, SaaS integrations, and sometimes even simple plugins. 

True inventory requires understanding not just your direct vendors, but any subprocessors they rely on to store, manage, or analyze your users’ data. Effective vendor mapping now seamlessly integrates privacy and security, creating a dynamic and living inventory of all vendor risks.

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Vendor evaluation over time: Yesterday’s partner is tomorrow’s threat

A vendor that processed only emails last year might now be building AI models trained on full user profiles. We must consider the evolution of each vendor and ensure they respect the consent choices of your users as regulations and data usage shift. Consent mismatches can quickly turn trusted vendors into compliance liabilities. 

Privacy risk management means tracking vendors continuously. You want to understand if and how their use of data changes over time. Are they anonymizing and masking the data? Are they quietly expanding their use without informing you?

This is where too many companies fall behind. They treat vendor due diligence as a one-time (or quarterly) task, when it is an ongoing conversation.

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Risk definition: The privacy landscape always changes

In the consolidated privacy and security landscape, risks are defined by real-world vendor behavior, regulatory compliance, and security practices. We ask: What type of personal data is handled? Does the vendor comply with the latest privacy regulations? How can new technologies change the map?

As we’ve mentioned, privacy risks are dynamic. A vendor that is low-risk today could become high-risk tomorrow if new AI regulations target their data practices or if their platform shifts how it collects user information. 

One crucial focal point is AI. According to Gartner, for example, 40% of organizations have experienced an AI privacy breach. The consolidated TPRM must also account for vendors’ use of AI tools and models, tracking how AI-enabled systems interact with personal data and ensuring they meet both current and emerging regulations. This is a new definition of risk for organizations to consider and adapt to. 

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Risk assessment: The dynamic score

A strong privacy TPRM approach provides live, adaptable risk scores. You need to know, right now, how each vendor processes your user data, what protections are in place, and what might trigger a reevaluation. Risk scores must adjust based on vendor activities, regulatory updates, and internal changes in how you use the vendor’s services.

TPRM practices must evolve into a dynamic system in multiple ways as vendors, behaviors, regulations, technologies, and context continue to change. 

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The privacy-security blended DSPR

Security-only DSPM focuses on assets and technical vulnerabilities. Consolidated DSPM steps back and looks at how personal data flows inside and outside the organization.

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Ongoing monitoring
Data moves through vendors, applications, cloud services, and shadow IT tools. Integrated privacy and security monitoring tracks personal data and technical security risks simultaneously throughout the entire data journey. It highlights when personal information is shared, where it is being processed, and how it moves across different touchpoints. Instead of guessing where risks might appear, you get a real-time map.

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Automation matters
Since ongoing monitoring is now a necessity, attempting to monitor everything manually is impossible, making automation crucial for the consolidated DSPM. Automation tools help detect unusual patterns, flag policy violations, and automatically update risk assessments accordingly. This keeps the privacy program responsive without adding mountains of work.

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Assigning responsibilities

As TPRM and DSPM consolidate privacy with security, responsibilities expand across Security, IT, Legal, Compliance, Innovation, and Privacy teams, enhancing the importance of collaboration and efficiency.

Ownership cannot be fuzzy. You need to know exactly who acts when a risk is flagged, who talks to vendors, and who decides whether to escalate or accept the risk. Clear ownership reduces response times and prevents “not my job” delays that leave the company vulnerable.

Offering users a simple privacy portal to submit access and erasure requests directly can also strengthen compliance posture and support transparent vendor interactions.

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Building internal protocols
Privacy risk management calls for structured, repeatable processes to help you respond faster and with precision.

Set up playbooks for how you will:

• Flag and document vendor risks
• Communicate with vendors about changes or concerns
• Bring Legal and Compliance into conversations early
• Handle regulation updates and new technologies
• Balance business value against privacy risks
• Decide whether to mitigate, escalate, or move on from a vendor

Solid protocols turn stressful situations into manageable workflows.

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How MineOS makes TPRM and DSPM easier

MineOS’s platform is built to make consolidated security-privacy TPRM and DSPM scalable, smart, and actionable.

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Comprehensive vendor discovery
MineOS Radar continuously uncovers all vendors and connected data sources, even the hidden tools you didn’t know were there, giving you total discovery. The system scans tools, documents, and integrations to reveal tools and services that may be quietly accessing user information.

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Continuous inventory updates
The Radar provides continuous monitoring and automatic classification, keeping your vendor inventory dynamic, complete, and up-to-date. As vendors change their data practices or new tools are introduced, your inventory accurately reflects the current reality.

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Cross-team collaboration
A recent survey by EY found that centralization is a leading TPRM trend, with 57% of organizations already opting for a centralized TPRM program. MineOS offers a single source of data truth across Privacy, Security, and IT teams, centralizing privacy workflows and improving cross-team collaboration.

Teams can act faster and in collaboration, rather than working in fragmented systems out of context.

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Pragmatic AI automation
Mine’s AI-powered platform helps teams focus on what matters. Instead of overwhelming you with alerts, it provides insights into vendors that pose privacy risks, enabling your team to prioritize efforts and stay focused without being overwhelmed by noise.

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Don’t risk it. Blend privacy and security risk management.

Consolidated security-privacy TPRM and DSPM are not luxury upgrades. They are becoming the baseline for doing business responsibly and competitively.

Customers expect better data protection, regulators are raising the bar, and emerging technologies like AI are pushing data practices into new territories. Organizations that invest today in smarter, privacy-aware systems will be better prepared for the risks, opportunities, and expectations of tomorrow.

MineOS gives you the tools to get there faster, with fewer headaches and a lot more confidence.

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Contact MinWhen Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) first became standard practice, the focus was on security alone. The process was meant to protect sensitive data from external threats, shield company systems, audit vendor security practices, and monitor to detect and prevent breaches.

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