Can the form be signed electronically?

Yes; electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent, signer attribution, and reliable record retention to meet the legal validity test.

Do I need a HIPAA BAA for testers?

If testing may access protected health information, require a signed BAA and document PHI handling procedures to comply with HIPAA's recordkeeping and safeguarding rules (45 CFR §164.502 et seq.).

Who should sign the authorization?

An authorized officer or delegated manager with authority to accept operational risk should sign. Include job title and role to show delegation and prevent disputes over authority.

How should signer identity be verified?

Use at minimum an email-authenticated signing link; for higher assurance, require SMS OTP, knowledge-based verification, or platform-provided advanced signer authentication.

What supporting documents should be attached?

Attach scope diagrams, asset inventories, PO or SOW references, and any BAAs or NDAs. These attachments clarify obligations and support forensic chain-of-custody.

How can the authorization be revoked?

Revocation should be written and signed by the original authorizing party; describe the revocation process and any required notice period within the form to avoid ambiguity.

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Security Penetration Testing Form

Security Penetration Testing Form

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Security Penetration Testing Form

This Security Penetration Testing Agreement and Authorization is entered into by and between Client Name: and Service Provider Name: Effective Date:

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client requires security assessment services to identify vulnerabilities, risks and weaknesses in Client systems and authorizes Service Provider to perform penetration testing under the terms set forth in this Form; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider represents that it has the technical competence, personnel and authority to perform the penetration testing services described below and shall perform such services consistent with industry standard methodology and applicable law; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend this document to record authorization, scope, limitations, compensation and responsibilities for the engagement.

SCOPE OF WORK

Description of testing services

AUTHORIZED ASSETS & EXCLUSIONS

Authorized Targets (list IPs, domains, applications). Enter each item or describe scope below.

Authorized targets and IP ranges

Excluded Systems or Activities (explicitly prohibited actions such as destruction of data, physical intrusion, denial-of-service beyond scoped limits):

Exclusions

TESTING METHODS & AUTHORIZED TECHNIQUES

The following testing types are authorized (check all that apply) and any additional techniques require prior written approval.

External network testing

Internal network testing

Web application testing

Social engineering / phishing (requires explicit approval)

Tools & techniques requiring approval

SCHEDULE & TESTING WINDOW

Testing Start Date: Testing End Date:

Allowed testing hours / blackout windows

PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee: $ Deposit (if any):

Payment schedule and invoicing

Late payment fee:

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term Commencement: Term Expiration:

Either party may terminate for convenience upon written notice of days. Termination for cause may occur immediately upon material breach not cured within the cure period specified in writing.

CONFIDENTIALITY & DATA HANDLING

All non-public information, vulnerability findings, credentials and test artifacts obtained by Service Provider during the engagement shall be Confidential Information. Service Provider shall not disclose such information except to personnel with a need to know or as required by law, and shall implement reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect Client data.

Designated point of contact for data handling

Data retention period for test artifacts and reports:

REPORTING & DELIVERABLES

Deliverables include an executive summary, technical vulnerability report and prioritized remediation recommendations. Delivery timeframe for initial report:

Additional deliverables or mandatory elements

Retest for verified remediation provided within after Client notification of remediation.

LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION & INSURANCE

Service Provider's liability for direct damages arising from negligent performance is limited to the total fees paid under this engagement. Neither party shall be liable for consequential, incidental or punitive damages. Each party shall indemnify the other against third-party claims arising from breach of this Agreement to the extent caused by its acts or omissions.

Service Provider represents that it maintains professional liability insurance in commercially reasonable amounts. Insurance details may be provided upon request and shall be kept current during the engagement.

EMERGENCY STOP & ESCALATION

In the event of an incident or suspected outage, Service Provider shall cease testing immediately upon notification by Client and shall cooperate in incident response. Emergency contact for Client:

GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Form shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws specified by the parties. Any disputes arising hereunder shall be resolved in the courts agreed by the parties. This Form, together with any mutually executed statements of work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings.

CERTIFICATION

By signing below, each party certifies that it is authorized to enter into this Agreement, that the information provided in this Form is true and complete to the best of its knowledge, and that it understands and accepts the scope, limitations and obligations described herein. Client expressly authorizes Service Provider to perform the authorized testing activities on the assets listed above during the authorized testing window.

Client - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Service Provider - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

What the Security Penetration Testing Form Is

A Security Penetration Testing Form documents authorization, scope, timing, and legal protections for a penetration test performed against an organization’s systems. It records the parties, systems and IP ranges in scope, permitted testing methods, data handling rules, and required notifications. The form also captures approval for any simulated social engineering, defined remediation windows, evidence handling, and signatures from authorized representatives. Proper completion reduces legal ambiguity, sets operational guardrails for testers, and preserves chain-of-custody for findings and artifacts.

Why a Formal Penetration Testing Form Matters

A completed form creates legal authorization, clarifies scope and constraints, sets remediation expectations, and documents consent and responsibilities to reduce operational and regulatory risk.

Who typically completes or signs this form

The final signatories should be authorized representatives with authority to accept risk and bind the organization contractually.

Internal security teams and CISO offices responsible for approving test scope and risk acceptance.
Managed security service providers or penetration testing vendors that execute technical testing.
Legal, compliance, or IT operations staff that define constraints and data handling requirements.

Essential elements to include in a professional form

A thorough penetration testing form combines legal consent, technical scope, operational controls, reporting expectations, and post-test obligations so both parties share a clear, auditable record of the engagement.

Authorization

Name of approving authority and signature block to prove explicit consent and liability acceptance.

Scope

IP ranges, applications, user accounts, and environments that are in- and out-of-scope for testing.

Permitted Methods

Allowed testing techniques, e.g., network scanning, exploitation, social engineering, and any prohibited actions.

Schedule

Start/end dates, maintenance windows, and blackout periods to avoid business disruption.

Data Handling

Rules for evidence, PII, credential usage, storage, encryption, and secure destruction of artifacts.

Reporting

Deliverables, severity classification, remediation timelines, and retest criteria for closure.

Security and compliance attributes to record

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Data at Rest: AES-256 encrypted storage

Regulatory Certs: SOC 2 Type II available

Health Data: HIPAA BAA required

Auditability: Detailed audit trail retained

Access Controls: Role-based signer authentication

Step-by-step: completing the Security Penetration Testing Form

Follow a clear sequence to avoid omissions: confirm authority, define scope, set constraints, detail evidence handling, obtain approvals, then schedule the test.

01

Confirm Authority: Obtain written authorization from an officer or delegated decision maker.
02

Define Scope: Specify IPs, domains, and assets explicitly with technical identifiers.
03

Set Constraints: Document prohibited systems, time windows, and social engineering approvals.
04

Sign and Record: Collect signatures and store the executed form in a secure repository.

Typical digital workflow settings for online completion

Configure an online workflow so the form routes automatically, enforces required fields, and captures an auditable signing trail.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link + optional SMS code or advanced signer verification
Required Fields	Make scope, contact, and signature mandatory
Notifications	Automatic alerts for approvals and nearing windows
Retention	Store signed copy with audit trail for specified retention period

How electronic submission and routing typically operate

A standardized e-workflow reduces friction: upload, place required fields, assign signers, authenticate, collect signatures, preserve audit logs and distribute copies.

Upload Document: Sender uploads the form template to the e-sign platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, and required data fields on the form.
Assign Signers: Specify signer order and contact details for routing.
Collect Signatures: Signers authenticate and complete fields; system saves audit trail.

Platform and technical requirements for eSubmission

Verify platform compliance (HIPAA BAA if needed), ensure secure storage (AES-256), and confirm export of signed PDFs with audit history.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Connectors for Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365
Authentication: Email link, SMS, or advanced verification

Penalties and risks from incomplete or incorrect forms

Unauthorized Access: Civil liability exposure

Regulatory Fines: HIPAA or financial penalties

Contract Breach: Indemnity and damages

Data Loss: Breach notification costs

Evidence Rejection: Forensic findings inadmissible

Reputational Harm: Customer trust erosion

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the form

Unclear scope definitions that omit specific IP ranges or application endpoints, creating dispute over permitted testing targets and outcomes.
Missing explicit written authorization from an individual empowered to accept risk, which can lead to liability for the tester and client.
Failing to define data handling for sensitive information, including PHI or customer PII, which can trigger regulatory incidents.
Inadequate signer authentication or audit trail capture that weakens enforceability of consent and creates dispute over attribution.

Typical timing and deadlines to include on the form

Set concrete timelines for each phase to align expectations and create measurable SLAs for testing, reporting, remediation, and retesting.

Test Window Start/End:

Provide exact start and end date/time with timezone.

Interruption Notice:

Specify notification period before any business-impacting activity.

Report Delivery:

Deliver final report within 14 calendar days of test completion.

Remediation Deadline:

Define remediation timeframe by severity category.

Retest Request:

Allow retest within an agreed remediation period.

eSignature vendor comparison for signing and storing forms

Compare core pricing and capabilities for electronic signature platforms commonly evaluated for form execution and storage. signNow is listed first per vendor comparison guidelines.

	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	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium+)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA)	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about the form and eSigning

Practical answers to common legal, technical, and operational questions about authorization, e-signatures, data handling, and retention.

Need help? Contact support

Can the form be signed electronically?
Yes; electronic signatures are legally valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent, signer attribution, and reliable record retention to meet the legal validity test.
Do I need a HIPAA BAA for testers?
If testing may access protected health information, require a signed BAA and document PHI handling procedures to comply with HIPAA's recordkeeping and safeguarding rules (45 CFR §164.502 et seq.).
Who should sign the authorization?
An authorized officer or delegated manager with authority to accept operational risk should sign. Include job title and role to show delegation and prevent disputes over authority.
How should signer identity be verified?
Use at minimum an email-authenticated signing link; for higher assurance, require SMS OTP, knowledge-based verification, or platform-provided advanced signer authentication.
What supporting documents should be attached?
Attach scope diagrams, asset inventories, PO or SOW references, and any BAAs or NDAs. These attachments clarify obligations and support forensic chain-of-custody.
How can the authorization be revoked?
Revocation should be written and signed by the original authorizing party; describe the revocation process and any required notice period within the form to avoid ambiguity.

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