Key findings:
AI vendors need deep access.
Many require access to sensitive systems, proprietary data, source code, cloud environments, employee workflows, or customer information.
Five evaluation domains.
Data security & privacy; identity & access; model, application & AI security; infrastructure & supply chain; governance & continuous assurance.
Red flags that should slow approval.
Eight vendor statements that signal you should pause the process.
One-time reviews aren’t enough.
AI vendors change after approval, new models, permissions, and integrations demand continuous assurance.
Before you connect a new AI vendor to your environment, ask: what exactly did we just connect to?
Business units want productivity, developers want faster output, and executives want innovation, so AI vendors get onboarded at record speed. Unlike traditional SaaS, many AI platforms add layers of risk through model behavior, prompt handling, opaque subprocessors, and dynamic outputs. Whether you’re in AppSec, security operations, GRC, procurement, or the CISO office, this checklist helps you ask smarter questions before approving one blindly.
Inside the checklist: 5 evaluation domains
- Data Security & Privacy. What data can the vendor access, store, retain, and reuse? Green flags: no-training commitments for enterprise data, configurable retention, strong encryption, transparent deletion workflows.
- Identity & Access Controls. Can only the right people and systems use the platform? Green flags: enterprise SSO (not paywalled), granular RBAC, full auditability, strong session/token controls.
- Model, Application & AI Security. Does the vendor secure both the application and the AI layer? Green flags: AI threat testing/red teaming, secure SDLC evidence, published disclosure policy, transparent model-stack documentation.
- Infrastructure & Supply Chain Risk. What powers the platform behind the scenes? Green flags: transparent subprocessor list, regional hosting options, formal incident response commitments, strong dependency governance.
- Governance, Compliance & Continuous Assurance. Can the vendor meet oversight expectations over time? Green flags: SOC 2 / ISO 27001, reports under NDA, continuous monitoring, proactive change communication.
By the numbers:
233 reported AI incidents.
32% of organizations hit by GenAI attacks.
82% have unknown AI agents.
5 evaluation domains and 8 red-flag phrases to listen for.
