Can a Secure Development Plan be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

How often should the plan be reviewed and updated?

Review at least annually and after material architecture or regulatory changes. Also update the plan within 30 days following any major security incident to reflect lessons learned and remediation.

Who must approve the plan before publication?

Typical approvers include the plan owner, head of security, engineering lead, and a compliance or legal reviewer; approvals should be captured with signer identity and timestamp.

Do HIPAA obligations change plan content?

Yes. For covered entities and business associates, include HIPAA controls, BAAs with vendors, and retention rules; maintain audit logs and encryption as required by HIPAA standards.

How should the plan link to CI/CD and testing artifacts?

Reference required automated checks, tools, and artifact locations; automate evidence collection where possible so test results and remediation tickets are associated with each release.

What records should be preserved for audits?

Keep signed plan versions, approval records, test results, vulnerability scans, and remediation tickets. Follow retention rules such as HIPAA six‑year retention and federal financial records per IRS guidance.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Secure Development Plan

Secure Development Plan

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

SECURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

WHEREAS, Client Name: and Developer Name: (each a "Party" and collectively the "Parties") desire to establish a secure development plan for the Project Name: effective as of Effective Date: .

WHEREAS, Developer represents that it has the personnel, processes, and technical capability to perform secure software development, including secure coding, testing, and remediation; and WHEREAS, the Parties wish to set forth the security requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, payment terms, and administrative provisions applicable to the development work.

1. Scope of Work

Scope Description

2. Security Requirements

Developer shall incorporate industry-standard secure development practices throughout the development lifecycle. Key requirements include:

Secure coding standard:

Static application security testing (SAST): Required Dynamic application security testing (DAST): Required Third-party component review: Required

Vulnerability Remediation

Critical/High vulnerability remediation SLA: days from discovery or receipt of report.

Encryption and Data Protection Access Controls & Logging

3. Deliverables & Acceptance Criteria

Deliverables Acceptance Criteria

Penetration testing required: Yes If required, scope and minimum passing requirements:

4. Payment Terms

Total Fee Payment Schedule

Invoicing frequency / Net terms: Late fee:

5. Term and Termination

Term start date: Term end date (if applicable):

Either Party may terminate this Plan for material breach if the breaching Party fails to cure within Notice Period: days after written notice. Termination for convenience requires days' prior written notice.

6. Confidentiality

Each Party shall treat the other Party's Confidential Information as strictly confidential. Confidential Information includes source code, security architecture, vulnerability reports, designs, and non-public business information. Recipient shall not disclose Confidential Information except to those employees, contractors, or advisors who have a need to know and are bound by substantially similar confidentiality obligations.

Exception: Information shall not be Confidential Information to the extent it is demonstrably (i) known to Recipient prior to disclosure, (ii) becomes lawfully available to the public through no breach, or (iii) is required to be disclosed by law, provided Recipient gives prompt notice and limits disclosure to the extent permitted.

Separate NDA attached: Yes

7. Governing Law

This Secure Development Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles.

8. Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Plan, together with any referenced exhibits or NDAs, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

9. Notices and Contacts

Client Contact Name Client Contact Email Developer Contact Name Developer Contact Email

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Developer Name:

By:

Date:

What a Secure Development Plan Is and Why It Exists

A Secure Development Plan documents organizational policies, processes, and controls for building, testing, and deploying software with security integrated across the software development lifecycle. It defines scope, roles, secure coding standards, testing and verification requirements, third‑party risk controls, and incident response links. The plan serves as a single source of record for audits, procurement, and regulatory reviews and supports consistent delivery of security requirements across projects and teams.

Purpose and Practical Benefits of a Secure Development Plan

A Secure Development Plan reduces vulnerability exposure, documents compliance with regulations (for example HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 where applicable), clarifies responsibilities, and shortens remediation cycles. It provides evidence for audits and contract requirements and helps teams scale secure practices consistently across products and vendors.

Teams and Roles That Typically Prepare or Use the Plan

Organizations with regulated data, software vendors, and teams responsible for secure engineering maintain and use a Secure Development Plan.

Engineering managers and architects who define technical scope and implement secure coding practices.
Information security or application security teams who create controls, run testing, and track remediation.
Compliance, legal, and procurement teams who review risk posture for contracts and regulatory requirements.

The plan is a cross‑functional artifact: development, security, legal, procurement, and operations reference it during design, review, and audits.

Core Components Every Professional Secure Development Plan Should Include

A complete plan combines governance, threat analysis, secure engineering practices, testing strategies, third‑party controls, and incident readiness into a single document for teams to follow.

Governance

Scope, ownership, approval authority, and periodic review cadence that define who is accountable for plan maintenance and enforcement.

Threat Modeling

Process for identifying and ranking threats to assets and architectures, including required mitigations and acceptance criteria for risk owners.

Secure Coding

Standards, approved libraries, code review rules, and static analysis requirements to prevent common vulnerabilities during implementation.

Testing & Verification

Requirements for SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, penetration testing frequency, and acceptance criteria for moving to production.

Third‑Party Risk

Vendor assessment workflow, minimum security controls for suppliers, and requirements for software bill of materials and patching timelines.

Incident Response

Integration points with incident response, reporting procedures, evidence retention rules, and post‑incident remediation obligations.

Essential Data Fields to Include

Plan Title: Unique name and version

Plan Version: Version number and date

Plan Owner: Primary responsible person

Scope Statement: Systems and environments

Control Mapping: Linked controls and standards

Approvals: Signatory name and date

Step‑by‑Step: Creating or Updating Your Secure Development Plan

Follow a repeatable sequence to craft, validate, and publish the plan so it serves as a living document for teams and auditors.

01

Gather Inputs: Collect architecture diagrams, asset inventories, and regulatory obligations.
02

Define Scope: List affected applications, environments, and exclusions clearly.
03

Document Controls: Map security controls to phases, owners, and testing requirements.
04

Review & Approve: Route for stakeholder review, record signoffs, and publish final version.

How to Configure an Online Workflow for the Plan

Set up an electronic workflow to manage versioning, review, approvals, and distribution to minimize manual handoffs.

Field	Configuration
Template	Centralized plan template stored in document repository
Review Cycle	30‑ to 90‑day review frequency depending on risk
Approval Chain	Security → Engineering Lead → Legal → Compliance
CI/CD Integration	Link controls to pipeline checks and test artifacts

Where to File and How to Route the Final Plan

Establish a single canonical storage location and clear distribution rules so reviewers and auditors always reference the current plan.

Canonical Repository: Store final plan in GRC or document management system.
Team Distribution: Share via controlled access links to relevant teams.
Audit Archive: Archive signed copies and approval records in audit store.
Contract Attachments: Attach plan to vendor or procurement documents as needed.

Digital Requirements for eSubmission and File Compatibility

Use platforms that preserve an audit trail, support industry file formats, and meet encryption standards required by your compliance program.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML, and JSON supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
Security Standards: TLS in transit; AES‑256 at rest

Recommended Timelines and Review Deadlines

Set predictable schedules for initial delivery, security testing, stakeholder review, and ongoing maintenance to keep the plan current.

Initial Draft:

Deliver within 30 days of project start

Security Testing:

SAST/DAST completed before release candidate

Stakeholder Review:

Allow 10 business days for review cycles

Annual Update:

Full plan review at least every 12 months

Post‑Incident Revision:

Update within 30 days after major incident

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Plan

Treating the plan as a one‑time document rather than a living artifact tied to releases and audits.
Leaving ownership unclear: no named owner or approval path creates stale or unsupported controls.
Documenting vague controls such as 'perform testing' without specifying tools, frequency, or pass/fail criteria.
Failing to align the plan with procurement clauses and third‑party requirements, causing contract delays.

Risks and Consequences of an Incomplete or Incorrect Plan

Regulatory Fines: HIPAA enforcement risk and civil penalties

Data Breach Cost: Financial loss and remediation expense

Contract Breach: Liability under vendor or customer agreements

Operational Delay: Release blocks and remediation rework

Reputational Harm: Customer trust erosion

Supply Chain Risk: Vulnerable dependencies leading to compromise

eSignature Vendors and Pricing Considerations for Signing and Distributing the Plan

Choose an eSignature provider that preserves audit trails, supports required integrations, and meets your compliance needs; pricing and features vary by vendor and plan.

	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 plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Common Questions and Practical Answers

Concise answers to frequent questions about applying, signing, and maintaining a Secure Development Plan in a U.S. regulatory context.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Secure Development Plan be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
How often should the plan be reviewed and updated?
Review at least annually and after material architecture or regulatory changes. Also update the plan within 30 days following any major security incident to reflect lessons learned and remediation.
Who must approve the plan before publication?
Typical approvers include the plan owner, head of security, engineering lead, and a compliance or legal reviewer; approvals should be captured with signer identity and timestamp.
Do HIPAA obligations change plan content?
Yes. For covered entities and business associates, include HIPAA controls, BAAs with vendors, and retention rules; maintain audit logs and encryption as required by HIPAA standards.
How should the plan link to CI/CD and testing artifacts?
Reference required automated checks, tools, and artifact locations; automate evidence collection where possible so test results and remediation tickets are associated with each release.
What records should be preserved for audits?
Keep signed plan versions, approval records, test results, vulnerability scans, and remediation tickets. Follow retention rules such as HIPAA six‑year retention and federal financial records per IRS guidance.

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