Both for users and organizations regardless of their size or industry, transparency has emerged as a non-negotiable expectation in cybersecurity provision. Corporate clients demand visibility into how their cybersecurity providers manage risks, protect data and respond to threats. Similar questions bother individual users.
With cybersecurity products having deep system access, cybersecurity product users want to know exactly what a vendor is doing, why they’re doing it and how it affects their security and privacy. In this regard, a number of legitimate questions arise:
- What data is collected?
- What’s inside the black box?
- How are controls structured?
- Who else can get data, once it’s shared?
- What is the action plan if any vulnerabilities are detected?
Why the cybersecurity industry needs transparency?
Today, the interaction between a cybersecurity vendor provider and a customer is built on trust. Digital trust in cybersecurity is the confidence in a company’s ability to provide reliable protection technologies and superior data privacy and security.
Digital trust matters to cybersecurity vendors because the role and responsibility of cybersecurity has changed. In today’s ultra-connected world, cybersecurity is no longer simply about protecting hardware and software, but about safeguarding economies and everyday lives, and the vast volumes of data they create.
Trust cannot be demanded, but needs to be earned and proven. Vendors need to embrace transparency. Others need clear visibility and the right to make up their own minds by looking at the evidence.
By implementing the following measures, transparent vendors empower consumers with clarity, control and confidence:
- Clear communication about how products work
Vendors openly explain what their tools do, what data they access and with what purposes. - Visibility into data collection and usage
Users clearly understand all the processes connected to their data, its collection, storage and sharing. - Open security practices and documentation
Transparent vendors publish info on their security architecture, update and patching processes, and incident response procedures. - Honest disclosure of vulnerabilities and incidents
A transparent company doesn’t hide breaches or flaws. They disclose issues quickly, explaining the impact and providing prompt remediation steps with wrapped-up lessons learned. - Independent verification and audits
Third party assessments—like SOC 2, ISO 27001, penetration tests results or code audits are also verifiable proofs of a vendor’s reliability.
Why transparency matters
Choosing transparent providers means peace-of-mind about how their products work, how they protect personal data and what happens when things go wrong. And that kind of honesty brings big benefits to consumers.
Transparency enables stakeholders to make informed decisions, helps mitigate breach damage through rapid, open communication and allows for collective defense against evolving threats, ultimately strengthening security outcomes for all participants. For end users and organizations alike, partnering with transparent cybersecurity providers means more than mere protection, it implies a smarter defense strategy. The following points demonstrate the advantages of working with transparent suppliers:
1. Data handling visibility
Clients trust cybersecurity vendors with their data. They need to know exactly how their information is protected. Transparency into internal processes, such as access controls and data handling practices, build trust and reassure clients that their assets are in capable hands.
2. Clear accountability in incidents
When a breach occurs, timing is what matters the most. Transparency ensures that if a security failure happens, the user is notified promptly with clear details on the impact and necessary next steps. For businesses, transparent partners ensure that all parties are aligned and can act swiftly to manage risks and minimize damage.
3. Ethical principles adherence
Transparency often signals a vendor’s ethical stance. Companies that are open about their practices empower their customers with confidence that their security is in the right hands.
4. Independent assessments
Instead of relying on marketing, users can verify a provider’s maturity through real independent audits and certifications available.
5. Empowered decision making
Comprehensive information on security features allows users to align a provider’s services with their own specific risk tolerance. When vendors disclose their internal security frameworks, audit results and compliance measures, businesses can make proper decisions about risk exposure and mitigation.
6. Regulatory and contractual compliance
Many regulations now require organizations to demonstrate due diligence in selecting and monitoring third-party vendors. Transparent cybersecurity practices help vendors meet these requirements and reduce friction in contract negotiations. It also simplifies audits and reporting for both parties.
Current state of cybersecurity providers’ openness
A recent independent study by the Tyrol Chamber of Commerce (WKO), in collaboration with MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® and AV-Comparatives addressed the questions of accountability of security vendors and evaluated 14 widely used enterprise cybersecurity products, combining a legal and technical review. The study revealed, that while all vendors meet baseline transparency and compliance requirements, their practices vary significantly in detail and openness. Vendors combining robust security with structured transparency provide the highest assurance of resilience, compliance and trust.
According to the study, Kaspersky emerged to be one of the few vendors offering rare features like SBOM availability, source code reviews, with the broadest global network of over 10 transparency facilities, regular transparency reports and granular privacy controls. Kaspersky achieved the highest score, meeting or exceeding benchmarks in 57 out of 60 criteria.
In a crowded market, transparency is a differentiator. Vendors that openly share their security posture, certifications and governance models position themselves as trustworthy partners. This openness can be a deciding factor for clients evaluating long-term relationships.
Key steps for choosing a transparent supplier
For individual users:
- Check the vendors’ privacy policy. Look for clear explanations - a transparent provider always explains what data they collect, why, how long they keep it and how it’s protected.
- Check for honest communication about incidents and check how the company handles security issues.
- Look for independent reviews and certifications, like SOC 2, ISO 27001 or third‑party penetration testing reports.
- Check additional security measures the company undertakes.
For organizations:
- Vendor selection: Evaluate transparency and accountability as core criteria alongside protection capabilities.
- Due diligence: Request certifications, SBOMs and retention policies rather than accept generic claims.
- Incident & legal readiness: Review incident response, safe harbor, and jurisdiction clauses.
- Privacy & configuration: Carefully configure telemetry, file upload and reputation features to balance security and privacy.
