3rdRisk vs.

Onetrust

Scope and Focus

3rdRisk is a purpose-built Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) platform developed specifically for organisations that want to manage supplier and vendor risk in an integrated and efficient way. Its platform centralises all third-party data, assessments, alerts and reporting in a single environment. The focus is depth rather than breadth: every feature is designed around the lifecycle of third-party risk, from onboarding to monitoring and remediation.

OneTrust, on the other hand, includes TPRM as one of many modules within its broader Trust Intelligence suite. Its offering is designed to bring together privacy, risk, ethics and compliance into one ecosystem. While this breadth makes OneTrust highly versatile, it also means its TPRM module is part of a larger framework that may require additional configuration to reach the same depth of functionality dedicated platforms like 3rdRisk offer out of the box.

User Experience

3rdRisk prioritises simplicity and engagement. Its modern interface is designed so that users can start working with minimal training. The platform features a branded supplier portal, making the experience recognisable and professional for external stakeholders. Gamified elements encourage participation and timely completion of tasks, while an intelligent assistant guides users through assessments and actions.

In contrast, OneTrust provides a powerful, highly configurable environment with advanced dashboards, role-based reporting and extensive analytics. This scalability benefits larger enterprises with established governance structures, but typically requires a longer onboarding and configuration period before users become fully comfortable with the system.

AI and Automation Capabilities

3rdRisk incorporates embedded AI capabilities directly into its TPRM workflows. Its AI tools assist users in analysing supplier documentation, such as SOC 2 reports, automatically identifying gaps, and surfacing relevant risks. These capabilities reduce manual effort and speed up due diligence processes. The platform also automates recurring workflows, task assignments, and alert notifications, allowing teams to focus on strategic risk management rather than administrative tasks.

OneTrust relies heavily on automation and analytics across its broader platform. It provides sophisticated rules engines, workflow automation, and continuous monitoring features. However, its AI is more generalised and not specifically tailored to TPRM use cases. While its automation capabilities are extensive, its machine-learning applications are geared more towards privacy, compliance and governance data rather than deep vendor-specific intelligence.

Compliance Readiness

3rdRisk is framework-agnostic and particularly well-suited for European organisations that must comply with complex regulatory requirements such as NIS-2, DORA, and GDPR. Its flexible design enables organisations to map internal controls and supplier assessments across multiple frameworks without being locked into a single compliance model. The platform is designed to help compliance teams demonstrate control effectiveness and evidence regulatory compliance with minimal manual reporting.

OneTrust supports a broader range of global frameworks, including privacy and anti-corruption regulations such as CCPA and FCPA. Its library of pre-mapped controls and policies makes it attractive for multinational organisations managing compliance obligations across jurisdictions. However, the configuration required to localise these frameworks for EU-specific regulations can extend implementation timelines.

Partner Ecosystem

3rdRisk has built strategic alliances with leading advisory and consulting firms such as Deloitte, Protiviti and NTT Data. These partnerships enable customers to combine 3rdRisk’s technology with expert consulting services for implementation, regulatory alignment and ongoing managed services. The partnerships reinforce the platform’s focus on operational excellence and industry-specific knowledge.

OneTrust has developed a very large and global partner network, including system integrators and consultancies such as Accenture and Wipro. Its scale allows for extensive implementation support worldwide, though customers may rely more on external consultants to configure and manage the system effectively.

Time to Value

Because 3rdRisk is designed specifically for TPRM, organisations can typically deploy and start realising value within days rather than months. Its implementation approach focuses on rapid setup, with pre-configured templates, assessments, and workflows that can be adapted to each organisation’s needs. This makes it particularly effective for organisations that want to improve risk visibility and compliance quickly.

OneTrust’s implementation timelines are more variable. While it offers modular deployment options, the platform’s scale and configurability often require phased rollouts, especially in large or complex organisations. As a result, the time to full value is generally longer compared to specialised platforms like 3rdRisk.