IT VENDOR MANAGEMENT AUDIT: REVIEWS THE MANAGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY VENDORS PROVIDING IT SERVICES
Ensuring Accountability, Performance, and Risk Mitigation in IT Outsourcing
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 07 – 11 Dec 2026 | London, UK | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
As organizations increasingly rely on external vendors to deliver critical IT services, managing vendor performance, compliance, and risk becomes essential. A failure in vendor oversight can expose an organization to service disruptions, data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage. Regular audits of IT vendor management are vital for ensuring that outsourced services meet performance expectations, contract terms, and security requirements.
This intensive 5-day course equips internal auditors, IT managers, and procurement professionals with the skills and tools to assess third-party vendor relationships and audit IT outsourcing frameworks. Participants will learn how to evaluate vendor selection, contract management, SLA compliance, risk exposure, and ongoing monitoring practices.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the full lifecycle of IT vendor management
• Audit vendor selection, due diligence, and onboarding processes
• Evaluate contractual terms, SLAs, and performance metrics
• Assess vendor-related risks including cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance
• Report audit findings and develop recommendations for vendor governance
Key Benefits of Attending
• To strengthen controls over outsourced IT services
• To reduce vendor-related risks through structured audit practices
• To ensure SLAs are met and value is delivered through vendor partnerships
• To comply with cybersecurity, privacy, and procurement regulations
• To build a proactive vendor governance and monitoring framework
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Internal and IT auditors
• Vendor and supplier management professionals
• IT managers and CIOs
• Risk, compliance, and procurement officers
• Contract and service delivery managers
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• IT vendor audit planning and execution
• SLA analysis and performance monitoring
• Risk assessment and mitigation for third-party services
• Contract evaluation and compliance auditing
• Effective reporting to stakeholders and audit committees
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Increased assurance over vendor performance and compliance
• Reduced risk of service interruption and data loss
• Better alignment between vendor services and business needs
• Enhanced contract management and negotiation capability
• Improved visibility and accountability across IT supply chains
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings: IT sourcing models, vendor governance frameworks, and audit scope
• Case Studies: Third-party failures, audit findings, and remediation strategies
• Workshops: SLA assessment, contract audit, and vendor risk scoring
• Peer Exchange: Group discussions on audit challenges and vendor governance practices
• Tools: Audit checklists, vendor scorecards, performance review templates, and reporting formats
Course Outline
Detailed 5-Day Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Foundations of IT Vendor Management and Audit Scope
- Module 1: Overview of IT Outsourcing and Vendor Relationships (07:30 – 09:30)
• IT sourcing models, third-party reliance, and risk implications - Module 2: Key Governance Principles and Control Areas (09:45 – 11:15)
• Vendor lifecycle management and oversight responsibilities - Module 3: Workshop – Mapping the Vendor Audit Universe (11:30 – 01:00)
• Identifying critical vendors, services, and contract types - Module 4: Introduction to Audit Objectives and Frameworks (02:00 – 03:30)
• COSO, COBIT, and ISO/IEC 27036 for IT vendor audits
Day 2: Vendor Selection, Onboarding, and Contract Review
- Module 5: Vendor Due Diligence and Risk Assessment (07:30 – 09:30)
• Screening criteria, reputation checks, and risk profiling - Module 6: Contracting and SLA Management (09:45 – 11:15)
• Key clauses, performance metrics, and escalation procedures - Module 7: Workshop – SLA and Contract Review Exercise (11:30 – 01:00)
• Identifying audit red flags in contracts - Module 8: Compliance Requirements in IT Outsourcing (02:00 – 03:30)
• GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, and sector-specific obligations
Day 3: Service Delivery and Performance Monitoring
- Module 9: Monitoring Service Levels and Vendor Performance (07:30 – 09:30)
• Dashboards, scorecards, and performance reviews - Module 10: Incident Management and Escalation Processes (09:45 – 11:15)
• Service disruptions, root cause analysis, and response times - Module 11: Workshop – Creating a Vendor Scorecard (11:30 – 01:00)
• Sample KPIs for IT services and infrastructure - Module 12: Continuous Monitoring and Audit Automation (02:00 – 03:30)
• Use of technology and analytics in vendor audits
Day 4: Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Exit Planning
- Module 13: Vendor Cyber Risk and Data Security Controls (07:30 – 09:30)
• Third-party access, encryption, incident response - Module 14: Audit of Cloud and SaaS Vendors (09:45 – 11:15)
• Shared responsibility models, SOC reports, and certifications - Module 15: Workshop – Cybersecurity Audit Checklist for Vendors (11:30 – 01:00)
• Mapping controls against ISO/IEC 27001 - Module 16: Transition and Exit Management (02:00 – 03:30)
• Planning disengagement, data return, and continuity
Day 5: Reporting, Governance, and Continuous Improvement
- Module 17: Developing the Audit Report (07:30 – 09:30)
• Structuring observations, ratings, and action plans - Module 18: Communicating with Stakeholders (09:45 – 11:15)
• Reporting to IT leadership, audit committees, and vendors - Module 19: Workshop – Final Audit Findings Presentation (11:30 – 01:00)
• Simulated reporting and stakeholder engagement - Module 20: Wrap-Up, Lessons Learned, and Certification (02:00 – 03:30)
• Group debrief, best practices, and post-audit action
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in IT Vendor Management Audit, confirming their ability to assess, monitor, and improve governance over third-party IT services and outsourcing agreements.