When a vendor lacks a SOC report, it can be concerning, but it doesn’t automatically disqualify them. Many smaller providers may not have the resources or willingness to undergo a full SOC audit. Instead, you can use alternative methods to evaluate their security posture. These include requesting a detailed security questionnaire to understand their controls, reviewing independent security documentation such as policies, certifications, or penetration test summaries, and assessing their external security posture through tools that scan for vulnerabilities. These options help you gauge the effectiveness of their third‑party risk management practices even without a SOC report.

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