Service Provider refers to a third-party vendor that delivers essential services the insured business relies on for operations or technology functions. This includes cloud providers, payment processors, IT support companies, software vendors, data centers, and managed service providers. When a service provider experiences a failure, breach, or outage, it can disrupt the insured's business even though the incident didn't directly affect their own systems. Insurance policies may cover losses from service provider failures under contingent business interruption coverage. Important considerations include whether the policy covers all service providers or only those specifically listed, minimum downtime requirements before coverage triggers (often 8-24 hours), and whether the service provider's own negligence affects coverage. Businesses should maintain lists of critical service providers and understand their insurance coverage for third-party dependencies.