Purpose: Create a view of the outside services and hidden dependencies that support important operations. A map should reveal concentration and recovery difficulty, not only list vendors.
Suggested map fields
Business serviceCustomer or internal activity supported by the supplier.
Primary supplierContracted provider or platform.
Underlying dependenciesHosting, identity, payment, communications, subcontractors, data processors, or software components.
Data and accessInformation handled and connectivity or privilege provided.
Critical periodTimes when interruption has the greatest consequence.
Alternate methodManual process, alternate provider, local capability, or none.
Replacement difficultyTime, data portability, specialized skill, integration, and contract constraints.
Owner and reviewAccountable business owner and next validation date.
Worked examples
| Example | Context / Rating | Condition / Safeguard | Decision / Result | Owner / Follow-up |
|---|
How to use this page
- Start with critical business services, not procurement categories.
- Trace dependencies below the named supplier where possible.
- Mark shared providers used by several services.
- Record whether alternate operation has been tested.
- Review during contract renewal and major architecture change.
Cautions
- A vendor inventory is not automatically a dependency map.
- Do not assume an alternate provider can be activated quickly without testing.
- Watch for shared identity, cloud, telecom, and payment concentration.
Educational use: Tailor the language and decision authority to the organization. This page is not a certification, legal opinion, security assessment or substitute for professional advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small organization use this tool?
Yes. Reduce the number of fields or questions, but retain the scenario, business consequence, accountable owner, decision and review date.
Does this replace professional advice?
No. It is an educational structure. Legal, insurance, compliance, cybersecurity and other professional decisions may require qualified advice.
How often should it be updated?
Update it when the related service, supplier, data, threat conditions, controls, incident history or business priorities change materially.