What is HECVAT? Protecting Students from Vendor Security Risks | UpGuard

**Executive Summary:** This article describes HECVAT (Higher Education Community Vendor Assessment Tool), a standardized security assessment questionnaire used by colleges and universities to evaluate third‑party vendor cybersecurity and privacy practices; it covers HECVAT versions, benefits, common adopters, and practical guidance for integrating HECVAT into a vendor risk management program, including continuous monitoring and vendor maturity, and notes how platforms like UpGuard support compliance and automation.