Authorization
Documented permission from system owner, date authorized, and any restrictions on testing methods or hours.
A standardized Security Intrusion Tests Form centralizes evidence, demonstrates due diligence to regulators and customers, and clarifies remediation responsibilities. Proper documentation helps meet legal and contractual obligations and supports internal audit trails consistent with electronic record rules such as the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA provisions.
Sign-off is often required from both the system owner and a compliance or security manager to close the testing loop.
Documented permission from system owner, date authorized, and any restrictions on testing methods or hours.
Systems, IP ranges, applications, and data classifications in scope, plus out-of-scope assets to limit liability and focus testing.
High-level description of techniques used (manual testing, automated scans, exploit attempts) and tools or versions employed for reproducibility.
Clear vulnerability descriptions, CVE references if applicable, reproducible steps, screenshots or logs, and initial risk ratings.
Recommended fixes, assigned owners, priority levels, and target remediation dates to track closure.
Designated signers (tester, system owner, reviewer), dates, and eSignature or notarization details where required.
| Field validation | Require authorization, scope, and evidence attachments before submission |
|---|---|
| Routing rules | Auto-send to system owner then to compliance reviewer |
| Authentication | Use email plus SMS or SSO for stronger signer identity |
| Attachments | Allow PDF, PNG, TXT, and log file uploads |
| Retention policy | Enforce minimum retention per compliance schedule |
Ensure signer authentication matches risk (email, SMS, KBA, or advanced methods) and that the platform supports exports in PDF/A with embedded audit metadata.
Dates when active testing takes place
Typically within 3–10 business days after testing
Owner-specified target date (commonly 30–90 days)
Retest once fixes are deployed, commonly within 7–30 days
Keep reports per retention policy (see retention timeline)
| 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 | Yes, 7-day trial | No | No | Yes, limited | Yes, limited |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
A hospital schedules an authorized penetration test to assess EHR interfaces.
A SaaS provider commissions a third-party red team to test customer tenant isolation.