What Are Requirements You Can Set for Your Suppliers?

Great tools start with great partners

The tools you use shape your company’s privacy, security, and resilience.

Regulations like NIS2, GDPR, and ISO27001 don’t just care about what happens inside your company. They also care about who you work with.

That means if your suppliers drop the ball, the consequences can still land in your lap.

So, how do you set the right expectations from the start?

🧾 Why do supplier requirements matter?

Because working with a vendor is not just a transaction, it’s a relationship. A poorly chosen tool can lead to:

• Data breaches
• Compliance violations
• Downtime and lost productivity
• Reputational damage

On the other hand, good suppliers make your life easier. They offer better support, clear contracts, and actually care about your users.

🧠 What do NIS2, GDPR, and ISO27001 expect from you?

Across the board, modern laws and standards expect you to:

• Evaluate supplier risks
• Have contracts in place that define responsibilities
• Document who processes personal or sensitive data
• Monitor your vendors, especially for critical or security-related tools

You don't need perfect vendors. You need visibility and control.

✅ Practical requirements you can set

Here’s what you can ask from vendors to make sure they’re operating in good faith:

🔐 Security

• Do they follow any standards like ISO27001, SOC 2, or CIS Controls?
• Are they open about security measures (encryption, access control, patches)?
• Do they have a responsible disclosure or bug bounty program?

🧾 Legal & compliance

• Are they GDPR-compliant?
• Can they sign a DPA (Data Processing Agreement)?
• Do they have sub-processors, and can you see who they are?

👁️ Transparency

• Do they publish clear terms and a privacy policy?
• Are they upfront about data usage, retention, and sharing?
• Will they notify you in case of incidents or major changes?

🧰 Support & continuity

• Is there real support when something breaks?
• Do they have backups or disaster recovery plans?
• What happens to your data if you stop using them?

🧠 Culture and attitude

• Do they take your questions seriously?
• Are they proactive about privacy and compliance?
• Do they treat your users with respect or treat data like fuel?

These are not bonus features. They’re the new baseline.

🚩 Red flags to watch for

• Vague or missing documentation
• No mention of security or privacy on their website
• No one to contact about compliance
• Overly restrictive contracts with no clarity
• “We don’t sign DPAs” or “You don’t need to worry about that”

If they dodge your questions now, what will happen when things go wrong?

🛠️ How ToolHive helps

ToolHive helps you bring structure to supplier management:

• See which tools process what kind of data
• Track if you have a DPA or security documents on file
• Set and document internal approvals
• Keep all vendors organized in one place, with full context

That way, you don’t need 15 spreadsheets and a memory like a steel trap.

🤝 Strong supplier relationships start with strong expectations

You’re not being difficult when you ask for clarity, you’re doing your job.

And when you set the bar clearly, good suppliers will be happy to meet it.

Want to bring structure and sanity to your vendor landscape? Try ToolHive and start managing your suppliers like a pro.