Can a pen test report be electronically signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures meet U.S. legal standards when intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are documented per 15 U.S.C. §7001 (ESIGN) and applicable state UETA laws.

How should PHI or regulated data be handled?

Treat PHI under HIPAA rules and a signed BAA; redact or limit distribution of raw evidence and follow 45 CFR §164.530(j) for retention and access controls.

Which signNow plans support bulk distribution?

Bulk send functionality is available in Business Premium; Site License and Enterprise plans provide additional integrations and API access for high-volume workflows.

What evidence should be archived with the report?

Retain logs, screenshots, exploitation steps, and file hashes. Store signed PDFs with embedded audit trails to support forensic review and regulatory inquiries.

How long must reports be retained?

Retention depends on contractual and regulatory needs; follow federal baselines such as IRC §6501(a) for financial records and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA-related records.

What if a vendor refuses to fix a critical finding?

Document the refusal, escalate per contract terms, and consider compensating controls, timelines for remediation, and legal remedies outlined in service agreements.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Security Pen Testing Report

Security Pen Testing Report

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

SECURITY PENETRATION TESTING AGREEMENT AND REPORT

Client Name: Service Provider:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client desires to engage Service Provider to perform authorized security penetration testing and related assessment services on Client systems in accordance with the Scope of Work described below; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it possesses the necessary expertise, personnel, tools, and authorizations to conduct such testing in a professional manner, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties agree that the results, findings, and recommendations produced by Service Provider will be the subject of confidentiality protections and will be used by Client solely to improve security posture and remediation efforts.

SCOPE OF WORK

Detailed Scope and Objectives Systems, Networks, and Assets In-Scope Exclusions (if any)

TEST DETAILS

Test Start Date: Test End Date:

Testing Methodology (e.g., black-box, white-box, authenticated) Tools and Techniques Employed

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Executive Summary

Total Vulnerabilities Identified: Critical: High: Medium: Low:

Representative Findings and Technical Details Recommended Remediation Steps

RISK RATINGS AND PRIORITIZATION

Risk Rating Methodology:

Prioritized Action Plan (by priority and approximate effort)

RETESTING AND VERIFICATION

Remediation Verification Procedures

Retest Window: Additional Retest Fee Applies:

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee: $ Currency:

Payment Schedule and Milestones

Late Payment Fee:

TERM AND TERMINATION

Agreement Effective Date: Agreement End Date:

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure within days after written notice specifying the breach. Termination for convenience requires days' prior written notice.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All findings, technical details, exploit code, raw logs, and remediation recommendations produced by Service Provider in connection with this engagement constitute Confidential Information of Client and Service Provider as applicable. Neither party shall disclose Confidential Information to any third party except as expressly permitted in writing or as required by law. Receiving party shall implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect Confidential Information no less protective than those it uses to protect its own confidential information of a similar nature.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, redacted executive summaries and anonymized statistics may be used by Service Provider for internal quality assurance and marketing purposes provided no Client-identifying information or exploitable technical detail is included without the Client's prior written consent.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY

Service Provider's liability arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be limited to direct damages up to the total fees paid under this Agreement for the engagement. Neither party shall be liable for indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages. Client shall indemnify and hold harmless Service Provider for losses resulting from Client's failure to provide accurate information, timely access, or authorization required to perform the engagement.

GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve disputes by negotiation prior to initiating formal proceedings.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, together with any attachments, exhibits, and the written Scope of Work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and understandings, whether written or oral.

DISTRIBUTION, RETENTION, AND DELIVERABLES

Primary Deliverable Format and Recipients

Retention of Raw Test Artifacts (logs, exploit scripts) for audit purposes:

CERTIFICATION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Client certifies that it has the authority to permit Service Provider to conduct the testing described herein on systems identified in the Scope of Work and that no unlawful activity will be undertaken as part of the engagement. Service Provider certifies that testing will be conducted in accordance with accepted professional practices and only within the authorized scope.

Report Designation: Confidential: For Internal Use Only:

Client:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

Title:

Date:

What a Security Pen Testing Report Is and What It Covers

A Security Pen Testing Report is a formal document that records the scope, methodology, findings, risk ratings, exploited vulnerabilities, and remediation recommendations from a penetration test. It consolidates raw evidence, proof-of-concept details, and verification steps so stakeholders can prioritize fixes, measure exposure, and document due diligence for auditors, insurers, or regulators.

Why This Report Matters for Risk Management and Compliance

A clear Security Pen Testing Report supports risk-based decision making, documents remediation progress, and demonstrates proactive security measures that can reduce regulatory and contractual exposure under U.S. frameworks such as ESIGN and industry-specific rules.

Who Typically Prepares or Uses This Report

Typical authors and readers include internal security teams, third-party testing firms, IT leadership, compliance officers, and external auditors.

Internal Security Teams — Use the report to track remediation and verify fixes across infrastructure and applications.
Third-Party Pen Test Firms — Produce the technical findings, evidence, and exploit steps for validation and reproducibility.
Compliance & Legal Teams — Rely on the report for breach preparedness, vendor due diligence, and audit records.

Reports are often shared with executives and legal counsel in redacted form to preserve sensitive exploit details while supporting governance and contractual obligations.

Who Can Sign or Approve the Report

Lead Security Engineer

The Lead Security Engineer signs to confirm technical accuracy and acceptance of the testing methodology. Their approval indicates that evidence and remediation verification steps are complete and that technical recommendations reflect current system state.

Chief Information Security Officer

The CISO or equivalent signs to accept business risk decisions, authorize distribution, and confirm that remediation status and compensating controls meet organizational risk tolerance and compliance requirements.

Essential Sections Every Professional Report Should Include

A complete Security Pen Testing Report balances technical depth with executive clarity. Include distinct sections for reproducible evidence, prioritized findings, and action plans so audiences from engineers to board members can act effectively.

Executive Summary

Concise overview of critical findings, risk posture, and business impact written for non-technical stakeholders and decision makers.

Scope & Rules of Engagement

Detailed list of in-scope assets, testing windows, authorized techniques, and any exclusions to avoid legal or operational conflicts.

Methodology

Testing approach and tools used, including manual techniques, automated scans, and any credentialed access provided to testers.

Findings & Evidence

Individual vulnerability entries with severity, proof-of-concept, screenshots, logs, and artifact locations to reproduce the issue.

Risk Rating & Prioritization

Consistent rating system (e.g., CVSS or organization-specific scale) and recommended remediation priority for each finding.

Remediation & Retest Notes

Detailed remediation steps, responsible parties, target remediation dates, and verification steps for retesting.

Security and Compliance Facts to Include

Transport Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Storage Encryption: AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Tamper-evident logs and timestamps

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II; ISO 27001

Regulatory Support: ESIGN, UETA compliance

HIPAA Handling: BAA required for PHI

Step-by-Step: Produce a Usable Pen Test Report

Follow a structured sequence from scoping to retest verification so the report is actionable, defensible, and reproducible by internal teams or external auditors.

01

Define Scope: Agree assets, rules, and approval in writing.
02

Execute Tests: Perform agreed manual and automated assessments.
03

Document Findings: Capture evidence, steps, and supporting logs.
04

Remediate & Retest: Verify fixes and update the report.

How to Configure an Online Report Workflow

Configure your digital workflow to preserve evidence, limit access, and record approvals. Below are common settings to enable reliable, auditable delivery.

Setting \| Typical value	Field \| Configuration
Authentication method	Email plus SMS one-time code
Document access control	Role-based access and view-only links
Versioning policy	Retain original and all revisions
Evidence attachments	Attach logs, screenshots, and export hashes

Typical Distribution and Filing Flow

After report finalization, route copies to technical, legal, and compliance recipients and store a verifiable archival copy in a secure repository.

Internal Security: Deliver detailed report and evidence to engineering teams.
Legal & Compliance: Provide redacted executive summary and remediation plan.
Client or Vendor: Share authorized findings and retest results as contracted.
Secure Archive: Store signed copy in an encrypted document repository.

Digital Signing, File Formats, and Integrations

Choose a platform that supports secure e-signing, audit trails, and common export formats to preserve evidentiary value.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Authentication: OTP, SSO, and advanced options

Maintain an immutable signed PDF with embedded audit trail and store in your document management or cloud archive for access controls and long-term retention.

Common Timelines and Delivery Expectations

Timelines vary by scope and contract. Establish clear delivery and remediation milestones in the rules of engagement to avoid disputes and regulatory exposure.

Initial Report Delivery:

Typically within 7–21 days after testing completes

Remediation Window:

High-severity fixes often targeted within 30 days

Retest Schedule:

Retest occurs after fixes; timing varies by issue

Breach Notification Consideration:

State deadlines vary; many require prompt notification

Document Retention Start:

Retention begins on report finalization date

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Report

Insufficient scope definition — failing to document in-scope hosts and approved techniques leads to authorization disputes and incomplete coverage.
Poor evidence capture — lacking timestamps, logs, or reproducible steps makes validation and remediation verification difficult for engineers and auditors.
Overexposure in distribution — sharing raw exploit details broadly can increase operational risk if sensitive proof-of-concept artifacts are not restricted.
Ambiguous remediation ownership — without named owners and deadlines, fixes are delayed and contractual or compliance obligations can be breached.

Consequences of Inaccurate or Missing Reports

Regulatory Fines: Potential monetary penalties for noncompliance

Contract Breach: Breach of contractual testing or reporting terms

Data Breach Costs: Remediation, notification, and forensic expenses

Legal Exposure: Litigation risk from affected parties

Reputational Harm: Loss of customer and partner trust

Insurance Issues: Coverage disputes if testing documentation missing

Realistic Use Cases for Security Pen Testing Reports

These anonymized scenarios illustrate how reports are used to drive remediation, satisfy contractual obligations, and support compliance reviews.

Enterprise Web Application

An enterprise web app produced critical authentication bypass findings

Exploit allowed session hijack during testing
Remediation prioritized multi-factor authentication and session hardening; retest verified fix and reduced critical risk to acceptable levels.

Regional Healthcare Network

A hospital network found exposed patient data via misconfigured API

Discovery showed unsecured endpoints returning PHI
The report documented evidence, triggered a BAA review, and supported notification and remediation tracked with evidence for auditors.

Practical Tips for Clear, Actionable Reports

Apply these practices to improve the report's utility for technical teams, legal reviewers, and executives while preserving sensitive exploit information.

Use a standard template

Adopt a consistent report template that separates executive summaries from technical appendices; consistency reduces review time and makes historical comparisons straightforward.

Prioritize remediation

Rank findings by technical severity and business impact, and assign named owners with target dates to avoid ambiguous accountability and delayed fixes.

Protect sensitive evidence

Provide full technical evidence only to authorized parties, and produce redacted executive copies for broader distribution to limit operational risk.

Document verification steps

Include exact retest steps and expected results so engineers can reproduce verification quickly; this minimizes iterative back-and-forth and shortens remediation cycles.

Key Milestones from Engagement to Closure

Track milestones in a sequential timeline so progress is visible and contractual deadlines are met; update the timeline when retests change dates.

01

Engagement Approval

Scope and rules of engagement agreed in writing before testing begins.

02

Testing Execution

Active testing window where evidence is captured and logged.

03

Initial Report Issued

Deliver technical and executive summaries to authorized recipients.

04

Remediation Verification

Retest validated fixes and close findings when verified.

eSignature Platform Comparison for Signing and Distributing Reports

Select an eSignature provider that supports secure signing, audit trails, and the integrations you need. Below is a pricing and capability snapshot with signNow listed first.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Pen Testing Reports

Answers to common questions on report validity, e-signing, retention, and handling sensitive findings when distributing reports to internal and external stakeholders.

Need help? Contact support

Can a pen test report be electronically signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures meet U.S. legal standards when intent, consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are documented per 15 U.S.C. §7001 (ESIGN) and applicable state UETA laws.
How should PHI or regulated data be handled?
Treat PHI under HIPAA rules and a signed BAA; redact or limit distribution of raw evidence and follow 45 CFR §164.530(j) for retention and access controls.
Which signNow plans support bulk distribution?
Bulk send functionality is available in Business Premium; Site License and Enterprise plans provide additional integrations and API access for high-volume workflows.
What evidence should be archived with the report?
Retain logs, screenshots, exploitation steps, and file hashes. Store signed PDFs with embedded audit trails to support forensic review and regulatory inquiries.
How long must reports be retained?
Retention depends on contractual and regulatory needs; follow federal baselines such as IRC §6501(a) for financial records and 45 CFR §164.530(j) for HIPAA-related records.
What if a vendor refuses to fix a critical finding?
Document the refusal, escalate per contract terms, and consider compensating controls, timelines for remediation, and legal remedies outlined in service agreements.

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