Too often, businesses rely on simple grades or one-page summaries without the context needed to make informed decisions. In this episode of Third Party, Jeffrey Wheatman, Bob Maley, and Ferhat Dikbiyik explore the dark side of cybersecurity report cards and vendor risk scores. The hosts break down why these scores can mislead, how conflicting results create confusion, and why transparency and context are critical for managing third party risk effectively. 

They share stories from their own experiences, discuss the dangers of oversimplifying complex risks, and outline how organizations can move from blame and black-box scoring to measurable, transparent practices that drive real resilience.