Enhanced Content Protection with TPN's Advanced Shield Level Structure
The Trusted Partner Network (TPN) has unveiled an enhanced Shield tier system, set to launch in early September 2025, as a significant step forward for content security in the media and entertainment industry [1][2]. This new system replaces the legacy Blue and Gold Shield with four tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold, and Gold Star.
The new Shield structure aims to increase transparency, elevate security standards, and drive continuous improvement in content security across the supply chain.
Details of the new tiers:
- Blue Shield: Indicates that a self-assessment has been completed and published by the service provider.
- Silver Shield: Replaces the classic Gold Shield and shows that the assessment is completed and a remediation plan has been submitted, signifying a recognized commitment to addressing identified security gaps.
- Gold Shield: Recognizes that the service provider has completed all "Best Practice" remediation items, and TPN has reviewed and approved this completion.
- Gold Star Shield: Marks the highest level, where all Best Practice and additional recommendations have been completed and reviewed by TPN, indicating superior security readiness [2][4].
The Silver and Gold Star tiers significantly enhance content security by providing clear indicators of a vendor’s or partner’s current security status and progress on remediation. Silver shows a structured response to gaps, while Gold Star represents comprehensive and verified adherence to top security practices, helping content owners gain clearer visibility on vendor security readiness and remediation progress in a landscape with evolving threats [1][2][3][5].
Attaining Gold and Gold Star tiers requires a review by the TPN SecOps team, ensuring these statuses reflect rigorous verification beyond self-reporting [4]. The system is integrated into the updated TPN+ questionnaire version 5.3.1, where each Shield tier is prominently displayed in the TPN+ Registry [1][2].
The new Shield tiers incentivize continuous improvement, as they formalize the process of remediation and review, reinforcing stronger content security assurance by categorizing vendors not just by assessment completion but by active gap remediation and comprehensive best practice adherence verified by TPN experts. This structure supports the industry's need for measurable and continuous security improvement.
According to Terri Davies, the president of the Trusted Partner Network (TPN), the new Shield structure provides clearer visibility into the security readiness and remediation progress of vendors and partners [6]. This new system is a pivotal step forward for content security, building on the value TPN provides for its members.
[1] Trusted Partner Network (TPN) Press Release: TPN Announces Enhanced Shield Tier System. (2025, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/news/tpn-announces-enhanced-shield-tier-system
[2] TPN Shield Tier System Explained. (2025, August 15). Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/resources/tpn-shield-tier-system-explained
[3] Davies, T. (2025, August 17). The Evolution of TPN's Shield Tier System. Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/blog/the-evolution-of-tpns-shield-tier-system
[4] TPN SecOps Team Review Process. (2025, August 20). Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/resources/tpn-secops-team-review-process
[5] TPN+ Registry: Your Gateway to Secure Partnerships. (2025, August 25). Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/resources/tpn-registry-your-gateway-to-secure-partnerships
[6] Davies, T. (2025, September 1). The Future of Content Security with TPN's Enhanced Shield Tier System. Retrieved from https://www.trustedpartnernetwork.com/blog/the-future-of-content-security-with-tpns-enhanced-shield-tier-system
The new Shield structure implemented by TPN aims to bolster content security across the industry by elevating security standards and driving continuous improvement, particularly with the Silver and Gold Star tiers. Silver presents a structured response to identified gaps, while Gold Star denotes comprehensive adherence to top security practices, verified by TPN experts.
The Silver and Gold Star tiers provide clear indicators of a vendor's or partner's current security status and progress on remediation in the technology-driven and ever-evolving media and entertainment landscape, thereby enhancing cybersecurity.
