TPRM Deployment in the Public Sector: Insights and Expertise

In an environment where interactions with third-party partners play a crucial role in the functioning of public organizations, proactive risk management for these relationships has become a strategic priority. Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) is now an essential approach to ensure regulatory compliance, reduce financial risks, and prevent cyber threats.

With more than 430,000 third parties managed worldwide, Aprovall has established itself as a key player in supporting public institutions toward resilient and collaborative governance. For example, a local government authority significantly reduced its administrative processing times through supplier file pooling and the automation of evaluation processes. This collaborative approach optimizes risk management while reducing the administrative burden for all stakeholders.

This article explores the tangible benefits of TPRM in the public sector, drawing on Aprovall’s proven expertise and sector-specific examples such as social housing. It also provides key insights for successfully transitioning to optimized third-party risk management adapted to today’s challenges.

Why TPRM is Critical in the Public Sector

Public sector organizations depend on a complex network of third-party partners, making proactive risk management essential. These partnerships expose institutions to financial, regulatory, and cybersecurity risks that can compromise operations and credibility. TPRM offers a structured approach to evaluate, monitor, and mitigate these risks throughout the third-party relationship lifecycle.

According to a Deloitte study, 87% of organizations experienced a disruptive third-party incident in the past three years, underscoring the need for rigorous, ongoing risk management.

Financial Risk Management

Public finances demand absolute transparency to ensure optimal resource use. A financial failure of a third-party partner can cause critical interruptions in essential services and damage institutional reputation. TPRM enables continuous assessment of partners’ financial health, identifying risky collaborations before they escalate.

For example, a public healthcare institution used a TPRM solution to evaluate the financial stability of its critical medical equipment suppliers. Following the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) guidelines for third-party due diligence, the institution identified early financial risks with a key supplier. This prevented delays in essential equipment delivery and ensured continuity of care.

A Financial Stability Board (FSB) report highlights that public sector entities implementing a structured third-party risk management framework significantly reduce financial incidents and improve their ability to maintain essential services — a critical priority for public institutions. This proactive approach strengthens operational resilience while optimizing public resource allocation.

Regulatory Compliance Oversight

Compliance with frameworks such as SPASER or DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) is vital for public organizations. Non-compliance can lead to severe financial penalties and reputational damage.

By integrating TPRM, organizations can ensure partners meet these requirements throughout the engagement:

• In deploying digital education services, a local authority worked with partners to ensure GDPR compliance for providers of educational software. Result: a 20% reduction in student data management incidents.
• A regional academy ensured supplier compliance in deploying digital education equipment through real-time monitoring of certifications and contracts, leading to a 35% reduction in contractual non-compliance.

Cybersecurity Risks and How to Manage Them

In an increasingly digital world, cyberattacks targeting the public sector are on the rise, exposing institutions to sensitive data breaches, service disruptions, and reputational harm. Every third-party partner represents a potential vulnerability in the security chain, making proactive cyber risk management critical.

According to the World Economic Forum, 72% of organizations saw an increase in cyber risks over the past year, driven by more sophisticated attacks on critical infrastructure WEF Cybersecurity Report 2025. TPRM plays a key role by integrating continuous assessment and monitoring mechanisms for third-party partners to protect sensitive data and ensure service continuity.

Preventive Measures

To counter cybersecurity threats in third-party risk management, it is essential to adopt a structured prevention strategy. This includes initial partner assessment and the deployment of advanced technologies and best practices to reduce vulnerabilities.

A public educational institution implemented a TPRM solution to monitor access to digital learning resources. This technology allowed them to detect and block unauthorized access attempts in real-time, ensuring the safety of students’ sensitive data.

Key Measures to Adopt

• Ongoing training for internal teams and cybersecurity awareness.
• Real-time monitoring of suspicious activity using AI-powered document analysis.
• Regular software updates and deployment of advanced firewalls.
• Compliance with European standards such as NIS 2, requiring public institutions to create incident response plans and improve cross-border cooperation.

These initiatives not only anticipate threats but also minimize their impact when they occur. For example, during the 2024 Olympic Games, ANSSI successfully coordinated audits and exercises to prevent major disruptions despite over 548 reported incidents.

Lessons Learned: Successes and Challenges

Implementing a TPRM program in the public sector delivers significant benefits but can also present operational and organizational challenges. Experience shows that Aprovall’s collaborative and structured approach helps overcome these obstacles while maximizing results for public partners.

According to the European Central Bank (ECB), automated systems for third-party monitoring greatly improve public sector organizations’ ability to respond quickly to incidents and maintain operational resilience.

Case Study: Social Housing Organization

In the social housing sector, a public organization partnered with Aprovall to address challenges in managing supplier records. Using a tailored TPRM solution, the organization benefited from rigorous tracking and data pooling, leading to significantly reduced administrative processing times. This also ensured regulatory compliance among providers while improving service quality for tenants.

By integrating a customized TPRM solution, the organization was able to:

• Quickly identify high-risk partners through continuous evaluation.
• Reduce non-compliance by 40% in external audits.
• Achieve annual budget savings estimated at 15% by eliminating ineffective collaborations.

This project also improved service quality for tenants, notably through better coordination with critical subcontractors. These results demonstrate how rigorous third-party governance contributes to operational resilience in the public sector.

Additional Benefits Observed

Beyond immediate results, implementing a TPRM program delivers long-term benefits, including:

• Improved internal transparency: employees are now better trained to identify and report risks linked to third parties.
• Increased stakeholder trust: proactive risk management inspires greater confidence from the public and policymakers.
• Sector example: local authoritiesIn sustainable development projects, a French region used a TPRM program to assess the environmental and social commitments of its public service providers. This approach enhanced transparency and strengthened stakeholder trust.

How to Succeed in Deploying TPRM

Deploying a TPRM program in the public sector requires a structured, collaborative methodology. To ensure success, it is essential to involve leadership from the outset and use suitable technologies to automate and optimize processes. These two pillars help establish a solid framework and ensure ongoing risk management.

Engage Leadership

Leadership commitment is a key success factor for any TPRM project. Visible, active support aligns strategic objectives with operational needs and ensures optimal resource allocation.

Selon une étude de Wavestone, 90% des programmes TPRM ayant échoué manquaient d’un soutien clair de la direction. Impliquer les décideurs dès le début permet non seulement de définir une vision claire, mais aussi de mobiliser les équipes autour d’un objectif commun.

Technologies et outils pour une gestion optimale

La complexité croissante des relations avec les tiers dans le secteur public exige l’utilisation de technologies avancées pour automatiser les tâches répétitives et améliorer la précision des évaluations. Les solutions modernes, comme l’IA documentaire, permettent d’identifier rapidement les anomalies et d’évaluer les risques en temps réel.

Par exemple, un organisme d’habitat social a récemment adopté une plateforme TPRM intégrant ces fonctionnalités. Grâce à cette solution, il a pu réduire de 40% le temps consacré aux audits manuels, tout en augmentant la fiabilité des données collectées sur ses sous-traitants.

Selon EY, l’adoption de technologies basées sur l’intelligence artificielle améliore l’efficacité opérationnelle des programmes TPRM de 30%, tout en réduisant les coûts liés à la gestion manuelle.

Aprovall Expertise: Key to Success

In an environment where third-party risks are constantly evolving, Aprovall’s expertise stands out as a critical lever for supporting public sector organizations in implementing robust, tailored solutions. By combining a proven methodology with advanced technological tools, Aprovall helps its partners achieve operational resilience while meeting the strictest regulatory standards.

This approach is all the more relevant given that, according to a KPMG study, 85% of companies consider third-party risk management a key factor in improving their overall resilience.

Conclusion

Aprovall’s expertise goes beyond delivering technological solutions. It is also built on human support, enabling public organizations to turn challenges into opportunities. By combining proactive management, continuous training, and personalized follow-up, Aprovall helps create a secure, compliant, and resilient partner ecosystem.