📝 You Can’t Outsource Responsibility
Why relying on third-party vendors doesn’t exempt you from accountability in cybersecurity
In today’s digital-first world, organizations of all sizes rely on third-party vendors to manage IT, cloud services, and security infrastructure. This makes sense—outsourcing brings expertise, efficiency, and scalability. But there’s one thing you can never outsource:
Responsibility.
A recent incident involving a prominent nonprofit in San Francisco highlights this truth. The organization experienced a ransomware attack that exposed sensitive donor and customer data. While the technical services had been outsourced, the public and legal backlash fell squarely on the organization itself—not the vendor.
Why? Because your customers don’t care who manages your systems. They care that their data is safe.
🔐 What This Means for Your Organization
1. You are still accountable—no matter who you hire.
Your name is on the domain, the donation page, and the privacy policy. If something goes wrong, clients, regulators, and the media will look to you, not your MSP or hosting provider.
2. Vendor oversight is a cybersecurity control.
Hiring a third-party vendor doesn’t end your responsibility—it begins a new phase of oversight. Are they following best practices? Are their policies audited? Have you reviewed their breach history or security certifications?
3. Security must be baked into your contracts and culture.
Make sure your contracts with third parties include clauses around breach notification, liability, minimum security standards, and regular testing. But just as importantly, foster an internal culture where security is everyone’s job—from staff to board members.
✅ What You Can Do Today
- Review your vendor relationships and ensure security obligations are clearly defined.
- Implement a vendor risk management program if you don’t have one.
- Conduct tabletop exercises involving third-party incidents.
- Communicate clearly and transparently with stakeholders about how their data is protected.
Final Thought
Cybersecurity isn’t something you buy once and forget. It’s an ongoing responsibility—and while partners can support your mission, they can’t shield you from the consequences of failure.
When it comes to protecting your data, your people, and your reputation:
You can outsource the service. But not the responsibility.