Can a scope be executed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws adopted in 49 states; ensure required disclosures and consent for consumer-facing transactions.

Is notarization required for a scope?

Usually no. Most security scopes do not require notarization, but if the scope carries contractual or statutory weight in certain states or for specific instruments, notarization or witness signatures may be requested.

Who should sign the scope?

An authorized representative with budget or operational authority should sign—typically the security program owner, an IT operations lead, or a contracting officer—to bind the organization to the defined terms.

How do I update a signed scope after approval?

Document proposed changes in an amendment, circulate for the same approvals as the original scope, obtain signatures with dates, and maintain version control to preserve the audit trail.

How long must signed scopes and evidence be kept?

Retention depends on applicable laws and contractual terms. Follow federal and industry standards—retain for at least three years for financial matters and six years for HIPAA-related records, with longer periods as required.

What if testing uncovers critical issues immediately?

Pause disruptive testing, notify the scope owner and operations, document findings and actions taken, and follow the incident response plan and contractual escalation procedures to mitigate harm.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Security Assessment Scope

Security Assessment Scope

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

SECURITY ASSESSMENT SCOPE

WHEREAS: Client Name:

WHEREAS: Service Provider:

WHEREAS: The parties desire to set forth the scope, deliverables, schedule and commercial terms for a security assessment engagement as further described below.

1. Scope of Work

Assessment Title:

Detailed Scope

Assessment Components (select all applicable):

External network vulnerability scan

Internal network vulnerability scan

Web application penetration test

Social engineering / phishing simulations

Configuration and hardening review

2. Deliverables and Reporting

Primary Deliverables Reporting Timeline

Draft report due within calendar days after completion of testing. Final report issued following receipt of Client acceptance of factual accuracy.

Acceptance Criteria

3. Payment Terms

Total Fee Payment Schedule Invoice Terms and Late Fee

Invoices payable within days of invoice. Late payments will incur interest at % per month or the maximum permitted by law, whichever is less.

4. Term and Termination

Term Start Date: Term End Date (if any):

Either party may terminate this Scope upon written notice to the other if the other party materially breaches any obligation and fails to cure within days after receipt of written notice. Termination will not relieve Client of payment obligations for services performed through the effective date of termination.

5. Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that it may receive Confidential Information from the other. "Confidential Information" means non-public information disclosed in any form that is designated confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential. Receiving party shall: (a) use Confidential Information solely for performance or receipt of the services under this Scope; (b) restrict disclosure to employees, contractors or agents who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein; and (c) take reasonable measures to protect Confidential Information from unauthorized disclosure. Confidential Information does not include information that is publicly known through no breach of this provision or is required to be disclosed by law, provided the disclosing party is given prompt notice and opportunity to seek protective relief.

Assessment and Findings may contain Sensitive Data. Provider will not retain copies of Sensitive Data beyond days after delivery of the final report, except as required to comply with written legal obligations.

6. Limitation of Liability

Except for willful misconduct or gross negligence, Provider's aggregate liability for claims arising under this Scope will not exceed the total fees paid by Client under this Scope. Neither party will be liable for incidental, special, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages.

Liability Cap (optional)

7. Governing Law

This Scope will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflicts of law principles.

8. Entire Agreement

This document, together with any statements of work, attachments and mutually executed amendments, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and communications. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

9. Miscellaneous Provisions

Subcontracting: Provider may engage subcontractors to perform portions of the assessment provided Provider remains responsible for their performance and compliance with this Scope. Insurance: Each party will maintain commercial general liability and professional liability insurance appropriate to the engagement.

Other Provisions / Notes

Client Name:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What a Security Assessment Scope Defines

A Security Assessment Scope is a formal document that sets the boundaries, objectives, and deliverables for a security assessment engagement. It identifies in-scope systems, data categories, environments, and excluded items; defines assessment methods and success criteria; names stakeholders and the responsible owner; and specifies reporting formats and timelines to ensure consistent execution and defensible results.

Why a Clear Scope Matters for Security Assessments

A precise scope focuses resources, reduces ambiguity, and limits wasted effort. It clarifies legal and compliance constraints, supports consistent evidence collection for audits, and reduces disputes over deliverables and responsibilities during and after the engagement.

Teams and Roles That Typically Use This Scope

Security Assessment Scopes are used by internal and external teams to coordinate assessments and align objectives before technical work begins.

Security teams and penetration testers coordinating test objectives and target systems for technical assessments.
Compliance officers and privacy teams mapping assessment goals to regulatory obligations and controls.
Procurement and vendor management professionals evaluating third-party assessment boundaries and deliverables.

Clear role alignment in the scope prevents duplicated effort and ensures that legal, technical, and business stakeholders understand expectations and responsibilities.

Core Elements Found in a Professional Security Assessment Scope

A complete scope organizes the engagement into actionable sections so assessors and stakeholders share a common understanding of objectives, methods, exclusions, and acceptance criteria before testing begins.

Assessment Objectives

Clearly state technical and business goals, including specific threats to evaluate, compliance frameworks referenced, and whether the assessment is discovery, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or a hybrid exercise.

In-Scope Assets

List systems, IP ranges, applications, cloud tenants, and data categories included; provide inventories, asset owners, and contact points so testing targets are unambiguous and reproducible.

Out-of-Scope Items

Identify explicitly excluded systems, maintenance windows, and live production segments to avoid unintended impact and to document agreed limits for liability and operational safety.

Testing Methods

Specify permitted techniques (black-box, white-box, credentialed scans, social engineering), allowed tools, and any destructive actions that are forbidden to preserve system integrity.

Deliverables & Acceptance

Define report format, severity taxonomy, remediation validation procedures, timelines for draft and final reports, and required evidence to meet contractual acceptance criteria.

Legal & Compliance

Include required legal protections, data handling rules, nondisclosure terms, jurisdictional clauses, and any regulatory references such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, or contractual obligations.

Required Scope Metadata

Scope Title: Formal short name

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Scope Owner: Named contact and role

In-Scope Assets: IP ranges, hosts

Out-of-Scope Items: Explicit exclusions

Assessment Method: Testing type

Step-by-Step: Create and Finalize the Scope

Follow these practical steps to produce a clear, actionable Security Assessment Scope that aligns expectations and reduces operational risk during testing.

01

Gather Requirements: Interview stakeholders and collect inventories and regulatory constraints.
02

Draft Boundaries: List in-scope and out-of-scope assets and environments.
03

Specify Methods: Choose testing approaches and define prohibited actions.
04

Review and Sign: Circulate for legal and operational approval, then capture signatures and dates.

How the Scope Moves Through Your Organization

A Security Assessment Scope typically flows from request and drafting to approvals, execution, and final acceptance; each stage should have a named owner and timeline.

Draft: Author prepares scope and asset lists.
Review: Legal, IT operations, and compliance review the draft.
Authorize: Stakeholders approve methods and dates.
Execute: Assessors perform tests and deliver reports.

Digital Workflow Settings for Scope Management

Configure workflow settings to control access, approvals, and audit logging when you manage scopes electronically.

Field	Configuration
Access Control	Role-based permissions for drafting and approval
Approval Routing	Sequential sign-offs from security, legal, and ops
Authentication	Use MFA or SMS codes for approver validation
Retention Setting	Store signed scopes with retention tags

Technical Considerations for Electronic Scope Approval

When you use electronic signatures and digital workflows, confirm the platform supports required authentication, audit trails, and integrations with your systems.

Authentication: MFA and optional KBA
Audit Trail: Time, IP, and action records
Integrations: CRM and ticketing integrations

Choose a platform that records signer attribution and retention controls; verify integration availability for systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite, Google Workspace, and document storage providers to maintain evidence continuity.

Typical Timelines and Key Dates to Include

Define critical dates in the scope to drive scheduling, resource allocation, and reporting deadlines for the assessment engagement.

Draft Completion Date:

Date by which the author must complete the initial scope.

Stakeholder Review Window:

Number of business days allocated for internal review.

Authorized Start Date:

Date when testing is permitted to begin.

Assessment End Date:

Final day for active testing to conclude.

Final Report Due:

Date for delivery of the final assessment report.

Common Risks and Consequences of an Incomplete Scope

Operational Impact: Unplanned outages or service disruption

Compliance Failure: Regulatory noncompliance and fines

Contract Breach: Vendor disputes and liability

Data Exposure: Unauthorized access during testing

Inaccurate Remediation: Misdirected fixes that leave gaps

Reputational Harm: Stakeholder trust erosion

eSignature Pricing and Feature Snapshot for Scope Approvals

Compare basic pricing and common feature availability for signature platforms commonly used to approve scopes. signNow is listed first per vendor-comparison convention.

	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	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Assessment Scopes

Answers to common questions about scope execution, signature validity, notary needs, updates, and retention to help project owners avoid common pitfalls.

Need help? Contact support

Can a scope be executed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA laws adopted in 49 states; ensure required disclosures and consent for consumer-facing transactions.
Is notarization required for a scope?
Usually no. Most security scopes do not require notarization, but if the scope carries contractual or statutory weight in certain states or for specific instruments, notarization or witness signatures may be requested.
Who should sign the scope?
An authorized representative with budget or operational authority should sign—typically the security program owner, an IT operations lead, or a contracting officer—to bind the organization to the defined terms.
How do I update a signed scope after approval?
Document proposed changes in an amendment, circulate for the same approvals as the original scope, obtain signatures with dates, and maintain version control to preserve the audit trail.
How long must signed scopes and evidence be kept?
Retention depends on applicable laws and contractual terms. Follow federal and industry standards—retain for at least three years for financial matters and six years for HIPAA-related records, with longer periods as required.
What if testing uncovers critical issues immediately?
Pause disruptive testing, notify the scope owner and operations, document findings and actions taken, and follow the incident response plan and contractual escalation procedures to mitigate harm.

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