Certified: The Security+ Prepcast

Every organization depends on external products and services, whether it is hardware from a supplier, software from a developer, or cloud storage from a hosting provider. But with every new acquisition comes a new layer of risk. If you do not know where your equipment comes from, what code is running on your network, or how your partners manage security, you are operating in the dark. That is why acquisition and procurement security is such a critical topic. In this episode, we explore the steps organizations can take to secure their acquisition processes and use contracts to enforce security expectations.
We begin with the acquisition process itself. Secure acquisition starts long before a product or service arrives on site. It begins with evaluating the vendor. Before entering into any agreement, an organization should conduct a vendor assessment. This involves researching the vendor’s security reputation, checking for any history of vulnerabilities or breaches, and reviewing how the vendor responds to incidents. A vendor with a strong track record of transparency and responsiveness is usually more trustworthy than one with a history of hidden problems or long patch delays.
Vendor assessments can take many forms. A formal questionnaire might ask about the vendor’s security policies, employee training, incident response procedures, and third-party audit results. Site visits or video interviews may be used to get a better sense of how the vendor manages security in practice. Public records, industry reports, and customer reviews also offer valuable insight. The goal is to gather enough information to decide whether the vendor is capable of meeting your security standards.
One of the most important things to look for is whether the vendor follows secure development and supply chain practices. Do they vet their own suppliers? Do they run vulnerability scans on their products? Have they published a responsible disclosure policy? These questions help uncover weak links in the chain. For example, a software vendor that does not perform code reviews or scan for vulnerabilities before release is likely to deliver risky products. An equipment manufacturer that sources parts from unknown or unverified suppliers may inadvertently introduce backdoors or compromised firmware.
This brings us to the concept of supply chain risk. Supply chain risk refers to the possibility that a product or service has been compromised somewhere along its journey—before it ever reaches the organization. This could include counterfeit parts, malicious code injections, or even intentional sabotage. The larger and more global the supply chain, the harder it is to track every component. That is why organizations must have secure procurement policies to reduce their exposure.
A secure procurement policy includes guidelines for selecting vendors, verifying product integrity, and tracking sourcing information. It may require that all critical software be compiled in-house or come with verifiable hashes to confirm authenticity. Hardware might need to be delivered in tamper-evident packaging or undergo additional testing before deployment. Some organizations go even further, maintaining a list of approved vendors and requiring executive review before purchasing from a new supplier. These policies create consistency and accountability in the procurement process.
Let’s consider a practical example. A government contractor is planning to purchase a large number of network switches for a secure facility. Before placing the order, the contractor reviews the manufacturer’s history and finds reports of undocumented features in previous models. They also discover that the firmware is proprietary and has not been independently verified. Based on these findings, the contractor decides to either switch to a vendor with a more transparent development process or add additional testing to verify the product’s behavior before deployment. This kind of diligence can prevent long-term security incidents that stem from hasty or uninformed procurement decisions.
Now let’s turn to the second half of the episode—contractual security requirements. Once a vendor has been selected, the contract becomes a critical tool for enforcing security expectations. Contracts are not just about pricing and delivery schedules. They should include detailed clauses that define how the vendor will protect your data, respond to incidents, and support audits or reviews. These clauses make your expectations legally binding and give you leverage if something goes wrong.
One essential clause is the right-to-audit. This gives the organization permission to inspect the vendor’s security practices, either directly or through a third party. It allows you to verify that security controls are in place and working as promised. Without this clause, you may have to rely solely on the vendor’s word. A well-written right-to-audit clause defines when audits can occur, what areas can be reviewed, and how findings will be addressed. It helps keep vendors accountable and encourages ongoing compliance.
Another important element is the inclusion of specific security standards. For example, the contract might state that the vendor must comply with recognized frameworks such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines or the International Organization for Standardization Twenty Seven Thousand One. It might also require background checks for personnel, encryption for all sensitive data, or adherence to data breach notification laws. These expectations should be clearly defined and matched to the type of service or product being provided.
Contracts should also cover incident response. If the vendor suffers a security breach, how quickly must they notify you? What information must they provide? Who is responsible for damages or regulatory reporting? Without these details in writing, responses to an incident can become delayed, unclear, or even adversarial. Setting clear expectations up front helps both parties act quickly and cooperatively if a problem arises.
Let’s walk through a real-world example. A company is working with a cloud services provider to host sensitive customer data. As part of the contract negotiation, the company includes a clause that the provider must notify them of any data breach within twenty-four hours, provide regular penetration testing results, and maintain compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation. They also include the right to review audit logs and require annual security reviews with joint remediation plans. When a breach later occurs, the vendor immediately informs the company, provides documentation, and works with them to address the issue. Because the security requirements were included in the contract, both sides knew exactly what to do and avoided costly delays.
To summarize, acquisition and procurement security is about making smart, informed decisions throughout the vendor lifecycle. That means evaluating vendors before purchase, understanding their security posture, and applying policies that reduce supply chain risk. Once a vendor is selected, the contract becomes your primary enforcement tool. Include clauses for audit rights, breach response, and compliance expectations. Together, these practices help ensure that the tools and services you depend on do not become your weakest link.
For the Security Plus exam, make sure you understand the purpose of vendor assessments, the nature of supply chain risks, and the types of contractual clauses that support security. You may see scenario-based questions where you need to identify a weakness in a procurement plan or recommend a way to enforce a vendor’s compliance. Pay close attention to keywords like right-to-audit, disclosure timelines, and third-party assessments—they often appear in performance-based questions.