The AAISM framework specifies that the primary metric of effectiveness in vendor management is the vendor’s compliance with AI-related requirements defined in contracts and governance frameworks. This provides measurable assurance that vendors adhere to agreed-upon privacy, security, and ethical standards. Reviews of threat reports, training results, or research participation are supplemental and may support continuous improvement, but they do not establish compliance accountability. Governance requires a direct focus on whether contractual and regulatory obligations are being fulfilled. Therefore, vendor compliance with AI requirements is the most important monitoring focus.