# Vendor Assessment | Secureframe

> Learn how to conduct vendor security assessments, key assessment criteria, vendor assessment checklists, and how vendor assessments support SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance.

canonical: https://secureframe.com/glossary/vendor-assessment

Vendor assessment is the process of evaluating a third party’s information security posture and data privacy practices during the vendor procurement process.

## What is vendor assessment?

Vendor assessment is the process of evaluating a third party’s information security posture and data privacy practices during the vendor procurement process. Organizations rely on vendor assessments to limit their risk exposure through a thorough, quantitative security assessment.