Modern businesses depend on a growing number of third party services. From payroll and accounting platforms to CRM systems, file sharing tools, and industry specific applications, these services are essential to daily operations.
They are also one of the most common sources of hidden risk.
This January, ITGuys is conducting a Third Party Service Hardening project across our client base. This is a focused, one time initiative driven by our commitment to continuous improvement and proactive security. Nothing is broken. No incident triggered this review. We are doing this because technology environments evolve, and regular refinement keeps them strong.
What Are Third Party Services?
Third party services are external platforms that connect to your organization’s users, data, or systems. Most companies rely on many of them, often added gradually to solve specific problems.
Common examples include:
• Accounting and payroll platforms
• CRM and marketing tools
• File sharing and document signing services
• Scheduling, billing, and ticketing platforms
• Vendor portals and software integrations
• Industry specific SaaS applications
Each service provides value. Each one also introduces an access point. Over time, those access points can multiply quietly.
Why We Are Focusing on This Now
When security issues make headlines, the focus is usually on networks, servers, or email systems. In practice, many real world breaches begin somewhere else.
They start with a third party platform that was never revisited after setup. A service still using basic login protection. An integration that no longer needs access. An old user account that was never removed.
In many environments, this looks like a tool that was added years ago to solve a specific problem, worked well at the time, and was never reviewed again once that project ended.
Third party services are attractive targets because they often sit outside the core environment and receive less attention. This project focuses on tightening those areas before they become problems.
What Third Party Service Hardening Means
Hardening is the process of reviewing a system and ensuring it is configured as securely and intentionally as possible.
For third party services, that means confirming that:
• Access is appropriate and limited
• Security features are enabled and enforced
• Old or unnecessary accounts are removed
• Integrations are justified and restricted
• Data exposure settings are aligned with business needs
The goal is not to make systems harder to use. The goal is to make sure convenience has not quietly turned into risk.
What We Are Reviewing During This Project
Each client environment is unique, but this project follows a consistent framework to ensure nothing important is overlooked.
User Accounts and Permissions
Access tends to expand over time. Users change roles. Contractors come and go. Temporary permissions become permanent by accident.
We are reviewing:
• Active user accounts
• Admin and elevated permissions
• Shared or generic logins
• External collaborators
• Accounts belonging to former employees
Where access is no longer required, it is reduced or removed. Where permissions are broader than necessary, they are tightened.
Authentication and Login Security
Many third party platforms support features like multi factor authentication, stronger password requirements, single sign on, and login alerts for suspicious activity. During this project, we review which of these controls are available, whether they are enabled, and whether they are being enforced consistently across users. When possible, we align third party services with the same authentication standards already used elsewhere in the environment.
Integrations and Connected Applications
Integrations create convenience, but they also create persistent access paths that are easy to forget about.
We are reviewing:
• Active integrations and API connections
• The level of access granted to each integration
• Whether each integration is still needed
• Whether permissions can be reduced
Unused or overly permissive integrations are removed or restricted to reduce unnecessary exposure.
Data Sharing and Exposure Settings
Many third party services allow data to be shared externally or stored indefinitely by default.
We are checking:
• Public or broadly shared links
• External sharing permissions
• Data retention and storage settings
• Default privacy configurations
These settings are adjusted to ensure sensitive information remains appropriately protected.
Common Issues We Are Identifying
Across environments, several patterns appear frequently.
Legacy Accounts
Former employees or vendors still listed as active users in third party platforms.
Excessive Permissions
Users granted admin access simply because it was easier at the time.
Security Features Not Enforced
Multi factor authentication available but not required.
Forgotten Integrations
Old tools still connected to systems despite no longer being used.
These issues are common, understandable, and fixable. This project ensures they are addressed intentionally.
What Clients Need to Do
Very little.
This project is handled primarily by our team using administrative access and existing documentation. In some cases, we may reach out to your technical contact to confirm whether a service or integration is still required.
There is no disruption to daily operations, and no changes are made without understanding the business context.
Why This Project Matters
Security risks rarely appear overnight. They build gradually through small oversights and forgotten settings.
Third party services are especially prone to this drift. Without periodic review, they become blind spots.
This project reduces those blind spots by tightening access, strengthening authentication, and ensuring external platforms meet current security expectations.
The Bigger Picture
This initiative reflects how we approach IT management. We do not wait for problems to force change. We continuously look for opportunities to improve, refine, and strengthen the environments we manage.
Better security comes from attention and intention, not just new tools.
The End Goal
Third party services are essential to modern business. When they are configured thoughtfully, they provide value without unnecessary risk.
This January project focuses on making sure that balance is in place.
By hardening third party services now, we help clients reduce exposure, simplify access, and maintain confidence in the systems they rely on every day.
If you have questions about this project or want to discuss other security improvements, our team is always happy to help.
303-578-6256
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