During a third-party risk assessment your organization develops its own vendor security questionnaire. The form is tailored to the service being purchased and asks detailed questions about authentication, data protection, and incident response, but it is not explicitly mapped to any well-known framework such as NIST CSF or ISO/IEC 27001.
Which statement BEST describes the role of security frameworks in this situation?
Framework mapping is required only when assessing cloud service providers; it is unnecessary for other vendor types.
Mapping each question to a recognized framework is mandatory; without it the questionnaire cannot be considered reliable.
Using a framework is discouraged because it makes questionnaires too lengthy and compliance-focused.
Framework mapping is helpful, but a well-tailored questionnaire that covers the vendor's relevant risk areas can still be effective without a formal cross-reference.
A questionnaire can still be an effective assessment tool without a formal cross-reference to a framework-provided the questions elicit adequate evidence about the controls that matter for the vendor's specific risk profile. Mapping to a framework is helpful for consistency and coverage, but it is not an absolute requirement; effectiveness depends on how well the questionnaire addresses the organization's risk tolerance, regulatory drivers, and the vendor's service scope. Framework alignment simply offers one proven method to reach that goal.
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What are some recognized security frameworks?
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Why is alignment with frameworks important during vendor assessments?
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What might happen if assessments are not aligned with frameworks?