THIRD-PARTY EDITION
2025 Thales
Digital Trust Index
Understanding How Third-Party Access Shapes Digital Trust
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A Long-Overlooked Dimension of Digital Trust
Thales announced the findings of its 2025 Digital Trust Index – Third-Party Edition, the first study to focus on how digital trust is shaped through business-to-business relationships. Surveying 1,300 procurement and commercial leaders across 10 countries and multiple industries, the report reveals how identity and access practices for partners affect the confidence of users working across organizations. The findings show that while third-party collaboration is essential to operations, the way user access is managed has long been underestimated as a driver of trust.
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Key Takeaways
Access Delays Kill Trust From Day One
31%
One in three must wait days for a host organization to give access — stalling business before it starts.
Inefficient Access Erodes Trust
96%
Nearly all of third-party users face issues logging into partner systems, wasting 48 minutes a month on average.
Inconsistent Processes Create Confusion
69%
More than two thirds of identity verification processes are mostly digital — but ownership varies widely, slowing onboarding and adding confusion.
Frequent Password Resets Add Friction
40%
Two fifths reset passwords once or twice a month — an ongoing burden that passwordless methods could eliminate.
Delayed Access Revocation Leaves Doors
Open to Abuse
51%
Over half keep access to partner systems for days or even a month after they no longer need it.
Low Confidence in Breach Disclosure
56%
Only 56% are fully confident host organizations would disclose a breach promptly. This doubt keeps risk hidden and erodes trust in digital relationships.
