November 26, 2025

The Hidden Risk of Integrations: A Checklist for Vetting Third-Party Apps

Small businesses run on apps. Payments, scheduling, analytics, messaging, automation. Every tool promises to make life easier. But here’s the quiet truth most owners don’t hear until it’s too late:

Every integration you add creates another doorway into your business.

And not all doorways are built with the same lock.

Recent reports show that more than a third of breaches now trace back to third-party integrations. That means a single insecure plugin, extension, or cloud app could become an attacker’s easiest path into your systems.

So let’s break this down in plain English.
Before you connect any new app to Microsoft 365, your CRM, your payment gateway, or your internal data, pause and ask a few important questions.

Why SMBs Rely So Heavily on Third-Party Apps

Most businesses don’t build technology from scratch. You shouldn’t have to. Integrations:

  • Save time

  • Reduce manual work

  • Add features you don’t have in-house

  • Improve customer service

  • Automate common workflows

But convenience without verification is risk disguised as efficiency.

The Hidden Risks You Don’t See at First Glance

When you click “Connect App,” you’re granting access. Sometimes deep access. Risks include:

  • Malware hidden inside a plugin

  • Weak authentication that allows unauthorized entry

  • Poor encryption

  • Vendors sharing or storing data without your knowledge

  • API outages that break your workflows

  • Apps that retain your data even after you uninstall them

In a world where insurers, auditors, and customers are all asking tougher questions about security, these risks matter more than ever.

Your Third-Party App Vetting Checklist

Here’s the heart of it: a practical checklist you can use for every integration, no matter how small it seems.

1. Check for Real Security Certifications

Look for vendors who meet standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, or NIST alignment.
These tell you the vendor has been independently tested.

2. Confirm Data Encryption

Data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest.
If the vendor can’t answer this clearly, that’s a red flag.

3. Look at Authentication Methods

They should support modern standards such as:

  • OAuth2

  • OpenID Connect

  • Short-lived tokens

  • Role-based permissions

The goal is simple: minimize the blast radius of a compromised account.

4. Ask About Monitoring and Alerts

Does the vendor detect and respond to threats?
Do they have logs you can access?
Can they prove it?

5. Understand Versioning and End-of-Life Policies

APIs evolve. Good vendors communicate changes long before things break.

6. Check Rate Limits and Quotas

This prevents an app from overloading your systems or causing downtime.

7. Review Contracts and the Right to Audit

A solid agreement protects your data, your reputation, and your compliance standing.

8. Know Where Your Data Lives

Some businesses cannot store information outside the United States.
Data residency matters more than most realize.

9. Evaluate Dependencies and Supply Chain Risk

Ask the vendor what open-source libraries or plugins they rely on.
You’re not just trusting them. You’re trusting their entire chain.

Vetting Integrations is Not a One-Time Task

Once an app is connected, you’re responsible for ongoing monitoring.
That includes:

  • Reviewing access logs

  • Removing unused apps

  • Rechecking vendors annually

  • Watching for breach notifications

  • Monitoring insurance and compliance requirements

Your environment evolves. Your risks evolve with it.

Protect Your Business Before You Plug Anything In

You don’t need to fear integrations. You just need a process.
A calm, consistent process that helps you choose tools that work for you rather than against you.

If you want help building a vetting checklist or need a second opinion before connecting a new app, we’re here to support you. One conversation today can prevent a crisis tomorrow.