Which assessment type ensures that a vendor is financially sound and will likely continue its services?

Vendor viability assessment is crucial for understanding a vendor's financial health and stability, which directly impacts their ability to provide services in the long term. This assessment typically involves evaluating the vendor's financial statements, credit ratings, market share, and overall business outlook. By determining the financial stability of a vendor, organizations can make informed decisions, ensuring that they partner with suppliers that are likely to fulfill their commitments and continue to operate effectively. This is particularly important in cybersecurity, where relying on a vendor’s ongoing services is essential for maintaining security measures.

In contrast, vendor lockout pertains to scenarios where a vendor restricts access to a client's own data or services, potentially affecting operational continuity. Source code escrow provides a mechanism to ensure continued access to software in the event of a vendor's failure but does not directly assess financial viability. Vendor lock-in refers to situations where a customer becomes dependent on a vendor's products or services, making it difficult to switch to another provider, which also does not address the vendor's financial soundness. Hence, the assessment type that specifically focuses on the financial health of a vendor is the vendor viability assessment.