Vendor lock-in

DEFINITION

Risk class 4 of the Risk Taxonomy 2026: workflows, data, and methodology become so deeply embedded in one vendor's tooling that the switching cost to exit is disproportionate to the value extracted, whether due to technical, workflow, commercial, or regulatory entrenchment. Addressed by articulating methodology in terms of capabilities required rather than vendors deployed, and by negotiating data portability and exit-assistance terms at the Build stage.

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