Supplier assurance for UK SMEs: a practical guide to checking third parties without overcomplicating it

This guide offers UK SMEs a simple, proportionate approach to supplier assurance—covering how to identify high/medium/low risk suppliers, what evidence to request for higher-risk relationships, ways to assess assurance (questionnaires, contracts, certifications), common security gaps to watch for, and practical steps for onboarding, renewal, and recordkeeping to manage third-party risk without excessive overhead.