UpGuard Chosen by Internet2 Community to Enhance Third-Party Risk Management for Research and Higher Education Institutions

Institutions will be able to quickly and easily streamline vendor risk assessments at scale with NET+ UpGuard program

UpGuard, a leader in cybersecurity and risk management and an Internet2 industry member, announced UpGuard Vendor Risk has joined the Internet2 NET+ service portfolio. The launch of the NET+ UpGuard program will enable research and higher education (R&E) institutions to reduce the complexities of their third-party risk management (TPRM) programs and strengthen their vendor ecosystem. Following a competitive procurement process and rigorous evaluation involving 14 higher education institutions, the R&E community members will have access to simplified deployment, competitive pricing, and research-ready flexibility.

“Research and education institutions face a uniquely complex vendor risk landscape and they shouldn’t have to tackle it alone,” said Sean O’Brien, associate vice president for NET+ cloud services at Internet2. “The NET+ UpGuard program is the result of institutions and industry working together through a community-driven process to identify requirements and build a tailored solution. That’s exactly what NET+ is designed to do, and we look forward to deepening this collaboration with UpGuard to strengthen vendor risk management across research and higher education.”

Education is the most highly targeted industry when it comes to cyberattacks. R&E institutions must navigate complex supply chains and adapt to rapid technological changes with limited resources while combating the persistent threat of cyberattacks. As institutions increasingly outsource or use third parties, the potential for data breaches has never been higher, demanding the need for a strong cybersecurity posture across the supply chain.

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Vendor Risk, part of UpGuard’s AI-powered Cyber Risk Posture Management (CRPM) platform, is designed to deliver continuous vendor insights, 360-degree assessments, and efficient AI-powered workflows. The NET+ UpGuard program can support institutional workflows by helping stakeholders coordinate vendor assessments including HECVAT, IT accessibility, or other institutional security and risk assessment standards. By providing a structured workflow for these reviews, institutions can coordinate assessments, store evidence and share information internally with stakeholders to streamline the evaluation and approval of third-party vendors. Ongoing continuous monitoring then provides visibility into vendors’ external security posture over time, helping institutions identify emerging risks and maintain a strong cyber risk posture.

“This collaboration with Internet2 is a validation for UpGuard’s Vendor Risk solution,” said Kaushik Sen, CMO at UpGuard. “Vendor Risk addresses the unique challenges R&E institutions face in managing third-party risk. The NET+ UpGuard program ensures a simplified, cost-effective, and research-ready solution for Internet2’s R&E community.”