Penetration Testing Preparation and Scoping Checklist
This penetration testing preparation checklist ensures proper legal authorization, scope definition, and methodology alignment with NIST SP 800-115 Technical Guide to Information Security Testing, PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) v2, and OWASP Testing Guide v4.2. Designed for security teams coordinating internal or third-party penetration tests.
- Industry: Telecommunications & IT
- Frequency: Annually or Per Engagement
- Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes
- Role: Security Manager / CISO / Penetration Test Coordinator
- Total Items: 17
- Compliance: NIST SP 800-115 Technical Guide to Information Security Testing, PTES Penetration Testing Execution Standard v2, OWASP Testing Guide v4.2, PCI DSS v4.0 Requirement 11.4 Penetration Testing, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 A.5.8 Information Security Testing
Legal Authorization
Written authorization and legal agreements before testing begins.
- Written authorization signed by asset owner and executive sponsor?
- Statement of Work (SOW) with deliverables and timeline executed?
- MSA with IP ownership, liability, and confidentiality clauses signed?
- Cloud providers (AWS/Azure/GCP) notified and authorized for cloud testing?
Scope Definition
Clear in-scope and out-of-scope system documentation.
- All in-scope IP ranges, URLs, and domains documented?
- Out-of-scope systems explicitly listed and signed off?
- Dedicated test accounts created with appropriate access levels?
- Sensitive data discovered during testing handling procedures documented?
Rules of Engagement
Testing constraints, timing restrictions, and emergency procedures.
- Testing windows defined and approved by operations team?
- Destructive testing and DoS explicitly prohibited in RoE?
- Emergency stop contacts documented for test-caused outages?
- Clear abort criteria defined (e.g., critical service disruption)?
Reporting Requirements and Remediation
Report format, vulnerability scoring, and remediation verification.
- Report format agreed (executive summary + technical findings + remediation guidance)?
- CVSS v3.1 or v4.0 vulnerability scoring agreed for all findings?
- Remediation retest (validation scan) included in engagement scope?
- NDA executed with testing firm covering test findings and methodology?
- Pen Test Preparation Notes
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Why Use This Penetration Testing Preparation and Scoping Checklist?
This penetration testing preparation and scoping checklist helps telecommunications & it teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for security manager / ciso / penetration test coordinator professionals, this checklist covers 17 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: annually or per engagement.
Ensures compliance with NIST SP 800-115 Technical Guide to Information Security Testing, PTES Penetration Testing Execution Standard v2, OWASP Testing Guide v4.2, PCI DSS v4.0 Requirement 11.4 Penetration Testing, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 A.5.8 Information Security Testing. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Penetration Testing Preparation and Scoping Checklist cover?
This checklist covers 17 inspection items across 4 sections: Legal Authorization, Scope Definition, Rules of Engagement, Reporting Requirements and Remediation. It is designed for telecommunications & it operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed annually or per engagement. Each completion takes approximately 30-45 minutes.
Who should use this Penetration Testing Preparation and Scoping Checklist?
This checklist is designed for Security Manager / CISO / Penetration Test Coordinator professionals in the telecommunications & it industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.