Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states if intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Who must sign the authorization?

An authorized approver such as an IT manager, security lead, or a delegated officer must sign. Document the signer’s title and authority to demonstrate organizational consent.

Do I need notarization?

Not typically required for operational authorizations, but some state or contract terms may require notarization; check state rules if the form will be used as legal evidence.

Can I revoke or cancel an authorization?

Yes. Include explicit revocation language and immediate stop procedures in the form. Record revocations in writing and notify testers and impacted teams promptly.

What if a tester exceeds scope?

Treat as unauthorized access: stop testing immediately, preserve logs and evidence, notify legal and incident response, and document remediation steps for liability mitigation.

How long should signed forms be kept?

Retain signed authorizations according to retention rules: a practical minimum is 3 years; healthcare-related forms should follow HIPAA’s six-year retention requirement (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Security Testing Authorization Form

Security Testing Authorization Form

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

SECURITY TESTING AUTHORIZATION FORM

Parties and Contact Information

Client Name:

Client Primary Contact Client Contact Email Client Contact Phone

Security Provider Name:

Provider Primary Contact Provider Contact Email Provider Contact Phone

Recitals (WHEREAS)

WHEREAS, Client owns or operates certain information systems, applications, networks and services for which Client seeks controlled security testing to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and weaknesses; and

WHEREAS, Provider is engaged in the business of performing security testing, including but not limited to penetration testing and vulnerability assessment, and represents that it has the technical skill and authority to perform such testing; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the scope, authorization, limitations, and legal protections governing the authorized security testing activities described in this Authorization Form.

Scope of Work

Provider is authorized to perform the security testing activities expressly described below. Provider shall perform testing in accordance with industry-standard methodologies and in a professional manner consistent with applicable law and the limitations set forth herein.

Detailed Scope of Work In-Scope Assets (IPs, domains, applications) Out-of-Scope / Explicit Exclusions

Testing Types and Rules of Engagement

Authorized Testing Types:

Penetration Testing Vulnerability Scanning Web Application Assessment Network Assessment Social Engineering Physical Security Testing

Other testing (specify):

Authorized Testing Window and Schedule

Start Date: End Date:

Testing Time Constraints

Credentials and Access

Provider may be granted authenticated access credentials for the purposes described herein.

Credentials Provided: If credentials will be provided, indicate username format or account type:

Credential Handling Requirements

Reporting, Findings, and Remediation Testing

Provider shall deliver a written report that documents findings, severity, evidence, and recommended remediation measures. Provider shall not publicly disclose findings without prior written consent of Client.

Report Delivery Timeline (days) Remediation Retest Authorization

Provider is authorized to perform follow-up verification testing after remediation: If authorized, additional fees may apply per the Payment Terms.

Payment Terms

Client agrees to pay Provider the fees set forth below in exchange for the authorized services.

Total Fee Payment Schedule Late Payment Fee

Term and Termination

This Authorization commences on the Start Date specified above and terminates on the End Date specified above unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Termination Notice Period (days)

Either party may terminate this Authorization for material breach that remains uncured after the notice period above, or immediately if required by applicable law or regulatory order.

Confidentiality

All reports, findings, exploit details, and any non-public information disclosed by Client to Provider or generated by Provider in the course of testing shall be deemed Confidential Information. Provider shall not disclose Confidential Information except to personnel with a need to know or as required by law. Provider shall implement commercially reasonable measures to protect Confidential Information.

Liability and Indemnification

Provider shall conduct testing with reasonable skill and care. Except to the extent caused by Provider's gross negligence or willful misconduct, Client acknowledges that testing may involve risk of disruption and agrees that Provider's total aggregate liability shall be limited to the total fees paid under this Authorization. Client shall indemnify and hold Provider harmless from third-party claims arising from Client's intentional misconduct, unauthorized use of findings, or failure to obtain appropriate consents.

Legal Authorization and Compliance

Client represents and warrants that it has full legal authority to authorize the described testing against the in-scope assets and that the testing will not violate any third-party contracts or laws. Provider agrees to comply with all applicable laws and to cease testing immediately upon notice of a lawful objection or directive.

Governing Law and Entire Agreement

Governing Law:

This Authorization, together with any referenced statements of work or appendices expressly incorporated herein, 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.

Certifications and Notices

By signing below, Client certifies that the information provided is accurate, that Client authorizes Provider to perform the tests described, and that Client understands the scope, risks, and limitations of the testing. Provider certifies that it will conduct testing in accordance with this Authorization and applicable laws.

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Security Provider Name:

By:

Date:

What the Security Testing Authorization Form Is

A Security Testing Authorization Form is a written agreement that grants a named tester or testing team permission to perform defined security testing against specified systems, applications, or networks. The document records scope, permitted methods (for example, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or social engineering), allowed dates and time windows, data handling and confidentiality requirements, escalation contacts, and safety controls to limit disruption. It creates a clear audit trail, reduces legal ambiguity, and documents organizational consent for testing activities to support risk management and regulatory compliance.

Why an Authorization Form Matters

Using a Security Testing Authorization Form reduces legal and operational risk by documenting consent, defining limits, and recording safeguards. It aligns IT, security, legal, and business stakeholders, supports incident containment planning, and helps demonstrate compliance with industry rules such as HIPAA or PCI DSS when testing affects regulated systems.

Who typically prepares and signs this form

Internal and external stakeholders prepare or sign the form to authorize testing and accept responsibilities.

Internal security, SOC, or IT operations teams that plan and approve tests and verify production readiness.
Third-party penetration testers or Red Team vendors contracted to perform agreed-upon tests under the organization’s scope and policies.
Legal, compliance, and business-unit leads who confirm contractual authority, data handling rules, and acceptance of residual risk.

Signatories should be documented by name, title, and contact information so responsibilities and escalation paths are clear.

Core elements a professional authorization form should include

A complete Security Testing Authorization Form clearly records scope, techniques, timing, safeguards, responsibilities, and contact information to reduce ambiguity.

Scope of Work

Precisely list systems, IP ranges, applications, and accounts in-scope and out-of-scope; avoid vague descriptors that can cause accidental access.

Permitted Techniques

Specify allowed methods such as vulnerability scanning, authenticated pentest, social engineering simulations, or denial-of-service exclusions to limit testing impact.

Testing Window

Define exact start/end dates and daily testing hours, including any blackout periods for backups, payroll, or high-risk operations.

Data Handling

State rules for data access, storage, evidence handling, and destruction; include whether sensitive data may be accessed and required controls.

Risk Controls

Describe safeguards to prevent service disruption, rollback plans, and criteria for immediate pause or stop of tests.

Contacts & Escalation

List primary and secondary contacts, authorized approver signatures, and incident escalation procedures with phone and email details.

Required information to include

Authorized Parties: Named tester organization and individual lead

Scope Details: IPs, hostnames, app identifiers

Allowed Methods: Permitted testing techniques

Timeframe: Start and end dates

Data Protections: Storage and disposal rules

Signatures: Signed by authorized approvers

Step-by-step: completing the authorization form

A short, ordered checklist ensures the form is complete, reviewers are identified, and tests proceed without avoidable delays.

01

Identify Scope: List exact assets and confirm out-of-scope items.
02

Select Methods: Mark allowed testing techniques and exclusions.
03

Set Schedule: Define testing windows and blackout periods.
04

Obtain Approvals: Collect signatures from security, IT, and legal.

How to set up the online authorization workflow

Configure digital fields and routing so approvals are captured, time-stamped, and retained in sequence for auditability.

Field	Configuration
Signature Fields	Assign signer order and required fields
Conditional Sections	Show data-handling clauses when sensitive data is in-scope
Authentication	Require email + SMS or advanced auth for vendor signers
Retention Policy	Auto-archive signed copies for X years

Where to send or file the completed form

After signing, route the authorization to owners, testers, and the security operations archive to maintain a consistent audit trail.

Security Operations: Primary copy stored with SOC or incident response team
Vendor Records: Send a signed copy to the external tester
Legal/Compliance: File a copy with legal for contract and liability records
Configuration Management: Attach to change tickets and maintenance logs

Digital signing and technical requirements

Use an e-signature platform that supports secure authentication, audit trails, and long-term storage for signed authorizations.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Authentication: Email + SMS or stronger
Integrations: Connectors to ticketing and storage

Ensure the chosen platform provides tamper-evident signed copies, searchable audit logs, and retention controls aligned with your compliance needs.

Key timing and scheduling considerations

Define precise dates and deadlines so testing does not conflict with critical operations or regulatory reporting periods.

Authorization Expiration:

Specify an explicit expiration date for the authorization

Advance Notice:

Require X days notice before testing begins

Daily Windows:

Set allowed testing hours to avoid peak loads

Emergency Pause:

Define immediate stop criteria and contacts

Record Retention:

Keep signed form for required retention periods

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the form

Failing to specify exact IP ranges or hostnames, which can lead to unauthorized testing or failure to test critical assets.
Permitting destructive methods (for example, DoS or aggressive fuzzing) without explicit safeguards and rollback plans.
Not listing or excluding third-party hosted services, resulting in contractual conflicts or unintended vendor impact.
Using unsigned or verbal approvals that cannot be reliably proven during incident review or legal inquiry.

Potential risks and legal consequences of insufficient authorization

Unauthorized Access: Civil liability and criminal exposure

Service Disruption: Operational downtime and remediation costs

Regulatory Fines: HIPAA, PCI, or sector fines possible

Contract Breach: Vendor or customer contract penalties

Data Exposure: Loss of PII or confidential data

Reputation Harm: Customer trust and market impact

Example eSignature provider comparison for authorization forms

Compare common plan and feature criteria to choose an eSignature provider for signing and storing Security Testing Authorization Forms.

	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	Trial varies	Trial varies	Trial varies	Trial varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-world examples of authorization workflows

These examples show how organizations capture approvals and integrate authorization forms into operational workflows.

Martin Properties — Tim Martin

A regional property manager adopted signed authorizations before tenant-impacting tests

required vendor liability clauses
this reduced scheduling conflicts and provided audit evidence for landlord insurance and compliance reviews.

BIS — Dan Rotelli

An enterprise services firm formalized test windows and escalation contacts in a template

used conditional fields for sensitive system flags
the standard form simplified vendor onboarding and legal reviews.

Frequently asked questions and quick fixes

Answers to common questions about authority, e-signatures, notarization, and recordkeeping for Security Testing Authorization Forms.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA in most states if intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Who must sign the authorization?
An authorized approver such as an IT manager, security lead, or a delegated officer must sign. Document the signer’s title and authority to demonstrate organizational consent.
Do I need notarization?
Not typically required for operational authorizations, but some state or contract terms may require notarization; check state rules if the form will be used as legal evidence.
Can I revoke or cancel an authorization?
Yes. Include explicit revocation language and immediate stop procedures in the form. Record revocations in writing and notify testers and impacted teams promptly.
What if a tester exceeds scope?
Treat as unauthorized access: stop testing immediately, preserve logs and evidence, notify legal and incident response, and document remediation steps for liability mitigation.
How long should signed forms be kept?
Retain signed authorizations according to retention rules: a practical minimum is 3 years; healthcare-related forms should follow HIPAA’s six-year retention requirement (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

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