An independent third-party audit is the correct response because it involves an external entity reviewing the organization's compliance with required standards, regulations, and controls, thereby providing an unbiased assessment of the company's security posture. This type of audit is specifically useful for meeting regulatory compliance that mandates external validation of security practices. A right-to-audit clause is commonly included in contracts and would allow the company to audit third-parties, but is not the appropriate tool for an external review of the company itself. Internal compliance reporting, while necessary, does not fulfill the requirement for an independent review. Similarly, self-assessments are conducted internally and lack the independent aspect required by the regulation.