Can the Assessment be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.

Do assessments require notarization?

Usually no. Notarization is uncommon for internal threat assessments; use notarization only if a specific contract or legal requirement demands it.

Who must retain the audit trail?

The producing organization should retain audit logs, evidence, and signed copies to support compliance and incident investigations; retention periods vary by regulation.

What if scope changes mid-assessment?

Record scope amendments, revised effective dates, and re-score affected findings. Treat the amendment as a new version for auditability.

Are third-party attestations needed?

For regulated entities or contractual obligations, an independent review or SOC 2 report may be required to validate controls and bolster trust.

How do I correct errors after signing?

Create a revised assessment version with change notes and re-signing. Preserve the original signed version for audit and chain-of-custody purposes.

Electronic Signature
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Security Threats Assessment

Security Threats Assessment

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

SECURITY THREATS ASSESSMENT AGREEMENT

Parties

Client Name: Client Address: Assessor (Consultant) Name: Assessor Address:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client requires a professional security threats assessment to identify and evaluate vulnerabilities to its people, physical facilities, information systems, and business processes; and

WHEREAS, Assessor has the technical expertise, qualifications, and personnel to perform such an assessment and to deliver the reports and recommendations set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the parties agree as follows.

Scope of Work

Assessor shall perform a Security Threats Assessment as described below. The assessment shall include identification of threats, evaluation of vulnerabilities, analysis of potential impacts, and prioritized recommendations for remediation.

Detailed Scope Description:

The assessment may include one or more of the following activities (select all that apply):

Network vulnerability testing and scanning Physical security inspection (access control, perimeter, CCTV) Social engineering and phishing assessments Policy, procedure, and incident response review

Deliverables

Assessor shall deliver written reports and materials that document findings, risk ratings, evidence, and prioritized remediation recommendations. Reports will indicate the severity of identified threats and recommended timelines for mitigation.

Deliverables (describe format and number of copies):

Methodology and Access

Assessor will use industry-accepted techniques and tools appropriate to the selected assessment types. Client shall provide reasonable access to facilities, systems, staff, and records as necessary to perform the services. Client acknowledges the assessment may require temporary disruption of services and grants permission for limited testing during agreed windows.

Methodology or Special Requirements:

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Assessor the fees described below in consideration for performance of the Scope of Work. Fees are exclusive of taxes and reimbursable expenses unless otherwise stated.

Assessment Fee (USD): Payment Schedule: Late Payment Fee: Reimbursable Expenses:

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on the Effective Date below and remains in effect until the completion of the services or until terminated in accordance with this section.

Effective Date:

Anticipated Completion Date:

Notice Period for Termination (days):

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within the notice period specified above. Termination shall not relieve Client of the obligation to pay for services performed and expenses incurred through the effective date of termination.

Confidentiality

Each party agrees to maintain in strict confidence all Confidential Information disclosed by the other party. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, non‑public business information, security architecture diagrams, vulnerability test results, exploit details, credentials, and any personal data accessed during the assessment. The receiving party shall use Confidential Information solely for the performance or evaluation of this Agreement and shall not disclose it to third parties except as required by law or as necessary to perform the Scope of Work, provided the recipient is bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein.

Assessor shall not publish or distribute any vulnerability details, proof-of-concept exploits, or evidence of compromise without Client's prior written consent, except as required to remediate urgent threats where disclosure reduces operational risk and Client has been notified.

Limitation of Liability

Except for willful misconduct or gross negligence, each party's aggregate liability arising from or related to this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client to Assessor under this Agreement. In no event shall Assessor be liable for incidental, consequential, punitive, or special damages, including loss of profits, loss of use, or loss of data.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state identified below without regard to choice of law principles.

Governing Law (State):

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including all appendices and statements of work expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements, representations, and understandings. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Acknowledgements

Client acknowledges that identification of vulnerabilities does not guarantee that all vulnerabilities will be discovered and that remediation is the responsibility of Client. Client further acknowledges that certain testing activities may cause incidental service interruptions and agrees to assume reasonable risk for such activities when consented herein.

Client acknowledges and accepts assessment risks and responsibilities Assessor warrants that services will be performed in a professional and workmanlike manner

Signatures

Client:

By:

Date:

Assessor:

By:

Date:

What a Security Threats Assessment Is and When It Applies

A Security Threats Assessment documents identified threats, assets, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts to an organization or system. It combines asset inventories, threat modeling, and likelihood-impact analysis to produce prioritized findings, recommended mitigations, and a remediation timeline. The Assessment is used to inform risk registers, compliance programs, incident response planning, and executive reporting across IT, security, and business teams.

Why a Structured Assessment Matters for Risk Management

A formal Security Threats Assessment clarifies exposure, supports consistent remediation prioritization, and documents due diligence for regulators and auditors. It provides a defensible record of decisions, helps allocate resources to highest-impact risks, and supports compliance with sector rules such as HIPAA or contractual security obligations.

Teams and Roles That Typically Complete or Review the Assessment

Cross-functional review ensures findings are actionable, assigned, and tracked through remediation and verification.

IT and security operations teams perform asset inventories and vulnerability scans, then map findings to threats and controls.
Compliance and legal review the Assessment to confirm regulatory obligations and document corrective actions for audits.
Business unit owners validate impact statements and accept residual risk or commit to remediation timelines.

Core Components of a Professional Security Threats Assessment

A complete Assessment organizes evidence, analysis, risk scoring, and mitigation guidance so stakeholders can act and verify closure.

Asset Inventory

Comprehensive list of systems, data flows, and owners including classification and sensitivity to support impact scoring.

Threat Catalog

Documented threat sources and scenarios relevant to the environment, including internal, external, supply-chain, and environmental threats.

Vulnerability Analysis

Findings from scans, audits, and manual review mapped to assets and potential exploit paths with CVSS or equivalent scoring.

Likelihood & Impact

Risk ratings combining probability and business impact to prioritize remediation and budget allocation.

Mitigation Plan

Recommended technical and administrative controls, estimated effort, responsible parties, and verification criteria for each finding.

Evidence & Audit Trail

Attachments, logs, test results, and change records that substantiate findings and support future audits and attestations.

Required Information and Key Fields

Assessment Title: Concise name

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Scope: Systems covered

Asset Owner: Contact info

Risk Rating: Low/Med/High

Remediation Due: MM/DD/YYYY

Step-by-Step: Completing a Security Threats Assessment

Follow a structured sequence to gather data, assess risk, and record remediation so results are actionable and defensible.

01

Prepare Scope: Define systems, data, and timeframe to be assessed.
02

Collect Data: Gather inventories, logs, and scanner results for included assets.
03

Analyze Threats: Map vulnerabilities to threat scenarios and calculate risk scores.
04

Document Actions: Assign owners, set deadlines, and attach verification evidence.

Customizing the Online Assessment Workflow

Configure fields, approver order, and authentication so the Assessment fits your workflow and preserves an audit trail.

Field Mapping	Map assessment fields to asset inventory or CMDB entries.
Signer Order	Set review and approval sequence for team and executive sign-off.
Authentication	Require MFA or SMS codes for approvers depending on sensitivity.
Attachments	Allow multiple file types and enforce required evidence fields.
Retention Policy	Set automatic retention or archival rules per compliance needs.

Where to Submit the Completed Assessment

Determine primary recipients and archival locations to ensure visibility and compliance after completion.

Internal Security Team: Primary reviewer and remediation coordinator.
Compliance or Legal: Holds the official record for audit and regulatory review.
Executive Stakeholders: Receives summarized risk reports and remediation plans.
Document Archive: Store final PDF and audit trail in secure records repository.

Digital Delivery and Format Options

Ensure your platform supports secure storage, role-based access, and exportable audit logs for compliance and litigation readiness.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and exported JSON supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace supported
Security: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest

Typical Timelines and Review Cadence

Set realistic deadlines for assessment completion, remediation, and scheduled re-assessments to maintain an up-to-date risk view.

Initial Assessment Deadline:

Complete within 30–90 days after scope is defined

Remediation Timeline:

Assign fixes within 30–90 days based on risk priority

Management Reporting:

Summarize findings to leadership within 14 days

Quarterly Reviews:

Update high-risk items every quarter

Annual Full Reassessment:

Re-evaluate scope and controls at least yearly

Key Milestones from Start to Closure

Track progress with a clear sequence of stages so each remediation is assigned, implemented, and verified to closure.

01

Initiation and Scope

Define boundaries, stakeholders, and timelines for the engagement.

02

Data Collection

Gather inventories, scans, logs, and contextual business impact.

03

Analysis and Prioritization

Score risks, produce prioritized findings, and recommend controls.

04

Remediation and Validation

Implement fixes and verify effectiveness with evidence and retesting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Assessment

Incomplete scope that omits cloud services or outsourced components leads to blind spots and ineffective controls.
Relying on a single scan without manual verification can misclassify false positives and miss complex attack paths.
Vague remediation tasks without owners or deadlines result in persistent risk and poor accountability.
Failing to preserve audit evidence (logs, configs, scan output) undermines future audits and incident investigations.

Consequences of an Inaccurate or Missing Assessment

Regulatory Fines: Potential civil penalties

Breach Notification: Mandatory public disclosures

Contract Liability: Indemnity and remediation costs

Insurance Denial: Coverage disputes possible

Operational Impact: Unplanned outages or data loss

Reputational Damage: Loss of customer trust

Who Is Authorized to Approve or Sign the Assessment

Chief Information Security Officer

The CISO or equivalent senior security leader typically attests to the assessment's findings and accepts residual risk on behalf of the organization. Their signature signals executive awareness and drives prioritization and funding for remediation.

Compliance Officer

A Compliance Officer or General Counsel may review and sign to confirm that the Assessment satisfies regulatory and contractual obligations and to document any legal reservations or required remediation timelines.

How to Download, Save, and Package the Assessment

Preserve the Assessment and its evidence in immutable formats and secure repositories to support audits, incident response, and legal requirements.

Export Options

Export final Assessment and attachments as a single PDF/A with embedded audit trail and timestamps for long-term preservation and court-admissible records.

Audit Trail

Include an exportable certificate of completion capturing signer identity, IP addresses, and action timestamps to support non-repudiation.

Supported Formats

Save source data as PDF, DOCX, or structured JSON to enable reuse, automation, and ingestion into risk management systems.

Evidence Bundle

Package vulnerability reports, screenshots, and change tickets with the Assessment to provide verifiable remediation proof.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

A neutral comparison of common vendor price points and capabilities. Use vendor sites to confirm plan details for procurement decisions.

	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 (Business Premium)	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
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 Threats Assessments

Answers to common questions about scope, signatures, legal validity, and evidence requirements when preparing an Assessment.

Need help? Contact support

Can the Assessment be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted; ensure intent, consent, attribution, and retention are documented.
Do assessments require notarization?
Usually no. Notarization is uncommon for internal threat assessments; use notarization only if a specific contract or legal requirement demands it.
Who must retain the audit trail?
The producing organization should retain audit logs, evidence, and signed copies to support compliance and incident investigations; retention periods vary by regulation.
What if scope changes mid-assessment?
Record scope amendments, revised effective dates, and re-score affected findings. Treat the amendment as a new version for auditability.
Are third-party attestations needed?
For regulated entities or contractual obligations, an independent review or SOC 2 report may be required to validate controls and bolster trust.
How do I correct errors after signing?
Create a revised assessment version with change notes and re-signing. Preserve the original signed version for audit and chain-of-custody purposes.

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