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Pen Testing Report

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PENETRATION TESTING REPORT & ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client Name: (the "Client") desires a security assessment consisting of penetration testing and related reporting; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider: (the "Provider") represents that it has the technical capability and qualifications to perform such testing under the terms set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree that Provider will perform penetration testing services and deliver a written report in accordance with the terms and conditions in this agreement and the technical scope described below.

PARTIES & CONTACTS

SCOPE OF WORK

The Provider will perform authorized penetration testing limited to the assets, systems and application components described below and in any attachments. Work will include vulnerability discovery, exploit attempts where safe and authorized by the Client, risk analysis, and remediation recommendations.

TEST OBJECTIVES & METHODOLOGY

Objectives include identification of exploitable vulnerabilities, verification of security controls, demonstration of impact consistent with permitted testing methods, and provision of actionable remediation guidance.

From:    To:

FINDINGS & RISK ASSESSMENT

Findings are categorized by risk and include evidence, likelihood, impact, and reproducible steps where applicable. Each finding below shall be accompanied by recommended remediation.

Severity:    Likelihood:

EVIDENCE & ATTACHMENTS

The Provider will include an evidence summary in the report and may provide separate encrypted attachments for logs and exploit data. All attachments are subject to the confidentiality obligations below.

LIMITATIONS & EXCLUSIONS

The testing is limited to the assets and techniques specified in the scope. Provider will not remediate issues unless explicitly contracted for post-report remediation. Provider will avoid destructive testing except where pre-authorized and agreed in writing.

PAYMENT TERMS

Client shall pay Provider the fees described below in exchange for performance of the services and delivery of the final report. All amounts are due in U.S. dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Interest on overdue amounts at % per month (or the maximum lawful rate), plus reasonable collection costs.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This engagement commences on the Effective Date and continues until completion of deliverables unless earlier terminated as provided below.

Effective Date:    Scheduled Completion Date:

CONFIDENTIALITY

The parties acknowledge that the report and all evidence are Confidential Information. Provider shall not disclose the Report or evidence to third parties except as required by law, as necessary to remediate findings with authorized third parties, or with Client's prior written consent. Client shall not publicly disclose the Report or Provider's proprietary testing methods without Provider's written consent.

Report treated as Confidential:   I acknowledge that the report and attachments are to be handled as Confidential Information under the terms above.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for wilful misconduct or gross negligence, Provider's aggregate liability arising from or in connection with this engagement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client for the services under this agreement. In no event shall Provider be liable for incidental, consequential or punitive damages.

GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the jurisdiction specified below without regard to conflict of laws principles.

This document, including any attachments and scopes of work referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior representations, negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, concerning the subject matter.

REPORT DELIVERY & DISTRIBUTION

CERTIFICATIONS

Provider certifies that the testing team is appropriately authorized and that testing will be conducted only with Client authorization specified in this Agreement. Client certifies that it has the authority to permit testing of the systems identified in the Scope.

By signing below, the parties acknowledge they have read, understand, and agree to be bound by this Penetration Testing Report & Engagement Agreement.

Client (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Provider (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Pen Testing Report Is and Why It Exists

A Pen Testing Report documents the scope, methodology, findings, and remediation recommendations from a penetration test performed against an information system. It records identified vulnerabilities, risk ratings, exploited scenarios, evidence such as screenshots or logs, and suggested fixes. The report supports risk remediation planning, compliance audits, vendor assessments, and executive briefings. Pen Testing Reports may be used internally, attached to third-party assurance packages, or shared with regulators and customers under confidentiality protections and contractual terms.

Why a Thorough Pen Testing Report Matters

A well-structured Pen Testing Report clarifies risk, prioritizes remediation, and creates an auditable record for governance and compliance. It helps technical teams fix issues efficiently while providing nontechnical summaries for stakeholders and legal teams.

Why a Thorough Pen Testing Report Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Uses These Reports

Organizations use Pen Testing Reports across security, IT, legal, and executive teams to capture findings and track remediation.

  • Security Operations — Receives technical detail and remediation steps to patch and harden systems quickly.
  • Compliance Teams — Uses summaries and evidence to demonstrate controls for audits and regulators.
  • Legal / Contracts — Reviews reports for third-party risk, non-disclosure considerations, and breach obligations.

External customers and regulators may request or require reports to satisfy contractual obligations or industry standards.

Essential Sections a Professional Report Should Include

Organize the report so technical and nontechnical readers can find what they need: executive summary, scope, methods, findings, evidence, and remediation roadmap.

Executive Summary

One-page nontechnical overview highlighting overall risk posture, number of critical issues, and recommended next steps for leadership and auditors.

Scope

Clear definition of in-scope systems, IPs, user roles, and exclusions so results are attributable and repeatable.

Methodology

Testing techniques and tools used (black/gray/white box, manual review, automated scans) with versioned tool lists.

Findings

Individual issues with severity ratings, CVE/CWE references where applicable, and impact descriptions tied to business risk.

Evidence

Screenshots, packet captures, logs, and command output that substantiate exploited vulnerabilities and test steps.

Remediation Plan

Prioritized actions, owners, timelines, verification steps, and recommended retest windows to close each finding.

Step-by-Step: Completing a Pen Testing Report

Follow this sequence to produce a clear, defensible report that supports remediation and audit needs.

  • 01
    Record Scope: Document targets, exclusions, authorizations, and test dates before testing begins.
  • 02
    Collect Evidence: Capture logs, screenshots, and commands with timestamps and tool versions.
  • 03
    Draft Findings: Describe each issue with impact, CVE/CWE, and reproduction steps.
  • 04
    Assign Remediation: Identify owners, priority, and retest criteria for each finding.

Where to Send and How to Route the Final Report

Define a distribution workflow that separates technical detail from executive summaries and protects sensitive evidence.

  • Internal Security: Deliver full technical appendices to the security operations team for remediation tracking.
  • Executive Summary: Provide leadership with a concise risk overview and remediation timelines.
  • Legal and Compliance: Share redacted copies with legal counsel for contract and breach-notification review.
  • Third Parties: Provide scoped or redacted reports to vendors or customers per contractual terms.

Recommended Electronic Workflow Settings

Configure document controls and signer authentication to preserve chain-of-custody and access controls when sharing reports.

Field Configuration
Access Control Role-based access with least privilege
Authentication Email plus SMS OTP or enterprise SSO
Audit Trail Enable detailed timestamps, IP, and action logs
Document Retention Versioning with tamper-evident storage

Platform and File Requirements for Electronic Delivery

Use a secure platform that supports PDF, DOCX, and authenticated access when sharing sensitive test reports.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX, or encrypted archives
  • Integrations: Supports CRM, cloud storage, and ticketing integrations
  • Authentication: Multi-factor or SSO for signers

Ensure the chosen solution records audit trails, preserves evidence integrity, and can restrict downloads or printing as required by policy.

Typical Timelines and Expected Delivery Milestones

Timelines for reporting and remediation vary by scope and contractual terms; document agreed windows up front to set expectations.

Report Delivery Window:

Agree a delivery date for the draft report in the engagement letter.

Remediation Targeting:

Define target closure dates for critical, high, and medium issues.

Retest Scheduling:

Schedule follow-up testing after fixes are applied and verified.

Evidence Retention:

Retain raw evidence under secure controls for dispute resolution.

Contractual SLAs:

Follow service-level agreements for delivery and response times.

Key Milestones: From Engagement to Closure

Track these sequential milestones to move from test initiation through remediation and verification.

01

Engagement Signed

Authorization, scope, and rules of engagement are finalized.

02

Testing Performed

Active testing and evidence collection occur per scope.

03

Report Drafted

Findings compiled, prioritized, and reviewed internally.

04

Remediation Closed

Fixes implemented and validated with retest if needed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing a Pen Testing Report

  • Omitting scope details — unclear boundaries lead to disputed findings and unresolvable gaps in remediation responsibility.
  • Insufficient evidence — failing to include timestamps, tool versions, or logs makes issues hard to reproduce and verify.
  • Overly technical executive sections — missing a concise nontechnical summary reduces stakeholder buy-in and slows decision-making.
  • Poor version control — not tracking report versions causes confusion during remediation and compliance audits.

Risks of an Inadequate or Incorrect Report

Regulatory Exposure: May increase compliance risk and regulatory scrutiny
Contract Breach: Could violate vendor or customer obligations
Operational Risk: Unaddressed vulnerabilities may lead to incidents
Reputational Harm: Poor reporting can erode stakeholder trust
Legal Liability: Incomplete evidence affects defenses in disputes
Insurance Impact: Claims or coverage disputes may arise

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison for Report Signing

Compare common eSignature vendors for signing and distributing Pen Testing Reports; signNow is listed first for parity and clarity.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Real-World Examples of Pen Testing Reports in Use

These examples show how organizations present findings, evidence, and remediation to different audiences.

Optica Ventures

The firm asked for a concise executive summary and full technical appendix to satisfy board and Ops

  • Key issue centered on exposed admin endpoints
  • The combined package allowed quick patching by Ops and a compliance-ready audit trail that satisfied external reviewers and the board.

Tech Data

Vendor organized findings by asset owner and priority to coordinate multiple teams

  • Highest-severity gaps were isolated to a third-party API
  • Clear ownership and retest dates reduced cross-team delays and supported contractual remediation commitments to customers.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Reports

Adopt consistent templates and verification steps to reduce review cycles and improve acceptance by stakeholders.

Use a Standard Template
A consistent structure ensures reviewers know where to find scope, findings, evidence, and remediation, reducing review time and errors.
Include Verifiable Evidence
Attach time-stamped screenshots, logs, and tool output to substantiate findings and support remediation verification and auditability.
Separate Technical and Executive Content
Provide a concise, nontechnical executive summary to speed decision-making while keeping full technical appendices for engineers.
Track Remediation and Retest
Maintain a remediation tracker with owners, dates, and retest evidence to demonstrate closure to auditors and customers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pen Testing Reports and eSigning

Answers to common practical and legal questions encountered when preparing, distributing, and signing Pen Testing Reports.


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