> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vendexlabs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run an assessment

> Record a compliance decision, attach evidence, and keep an audit trail.

An assessment captures your review of a vendor and the decision you reach. This guide walks through creating one end to end. For the concepts behind statuses and the audit log, see [Assessments](/concepts/assessments).

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/vendex-labs/cF_gRQxu5ZE_JthB/images/assessment-detail.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=cF_gRQxu5ZE_JthB&q=85&s=e204974d95717ddd040906b83b06fbd9" alt="Assessment detail with compliance, business context, and data privacy sections and an approval log" width="1744" height="1580" data-path="images/assessment-detail.png" />

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vendor's assessment">
    Go to **Assessments** and select the vendor. You'll see its current status, tier, and department, plus a detail panel. Choose **Edit** (or **Full page**) to make changes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add business context">
    Record the sponsoring **department**, the internal **sponsor contact**, and the **primary use case**. Turn on sponsor notifications if you want the sponsor kept in the loop on updates.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Document data handling">
    List the **data categories** the vendor collects (for example, name, phone) and add notes on how that data is used. This is what makes the assessment useful for privacy reviews later.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add compliance notes and contact">
    Capture your **security risk** and **compliance** comments and the compliance contact responsible for the decision.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach evidence">
    Upload supporting files — completed questionnaires, SOC 2 reports, certifications — under **Evidence & Documentation**. Evidence is stored with the assessment.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set an approval status">
    Choose the outcome: **Approved**, **Conditional Approval** (with the condition stated), **On Hold**, **Rejected**, or leave it **In Progress**. Set the submission and approval dates as appropriate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save your changes. VendexLabs records every field change in the approval log, grouped into a single event per save, with your name and a timestamp.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Renewing an approval

Approvals are point-in-time. When a vendor's review date approaches, VendexLabs flags it. Open the assessment and choose **Renew Approval** to record a fresh review and reset the next-review date — the renewal is captured in the approval log like any other decision.

<Tip>
  Exporting an assessment produces a board-ready PDF of the full record — status, context, evidence list, and history. See [Reports & exports](/guides/reports-and-exports).
</Tip>