Penetration Testing Checklist: What to Do Before, During, and After the Test

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1. Before the Penetration Test: Pre-Assessment Preparation

Define objectives and goals: Clearly outline why you're conducting the penetration test.

• Meet compliance requirements
• Identify security gaps
• Assess specific concerns

Define what you want tested and what's off limits: Identify which systems, applications, or networks will be tested and what's out of scope.

Gather scope details: Collect information on your organization's:

1. Application frameworks (if applicable)
2. URLs
3. IPs
4. User roles
5. Tech stack
6. Environment setups

» Learn more: Why penetration testing is important for your business

Organizational Preparation

• Set up a safe, accurate testing environment: Document how these environments are configured and ensure they accurately represent production systems. Clarify which environment will be used for testing. We strongly recommend utilizing pre-production, staging, or dedicated testing environments so this won't affect your organization's production processes.
• Identify stakeholders and communication protocols: Designate key stakeholders and establish clear communication channels with the testing and security teams.
• Discuss timelines and expected outcomes: Set realistic deadlines and goals for the penetration test, including what success looks like.
• Organizational chart: A clear map of authority and responsibilities within the organization to effectively direct the flow of communications.
• Defined responsibilities: Ensure that every role has clear guidelines on their involvement in the pentest process.
• Executive oversight: High-level representation ensures that the pentest is backed by the required financial support and prioritization.
• Plan for off-hours testing (If Necessary): If the test could disrupt operations, consider conducting it outside of business hours.

Get the Right Approvals in Place

• Secure formal authorization: Get consent from stakeholders who agree on the scope, objectives, and limitations.
• Document the process: Record all stages of the approval process and the agreed-upon conditions.

Agree on Penetration Test Type

• Black-box penetration test
• Gray-box penetration test
• White-box penetration test

» Learn more about the different kinds of penetration tests

Pentesting With GRSee

GRSee helps you align teams, set up safe environments, and streamline communication—so your pentest runs smoothly.

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2. During the Penetration Test: Execution and Monitoring

• Ensure team involvement: Confirm that the relevant teams, including the testers and security teams, are actively engaged during the test.
• Evaluate traffic threshold: Monitor traffic to ensure the test doesn't overwhelm the system or cause performance issues.
• Maintain environment stability: Ensure the testing environment remains functional throughout the test.
• Keep communication flowing: Facilitate continuous communication between the testing team and internal stakeholders to address any issues in real-time. There should be a communications channel designed for reporting critical issues that need to be addressed ASAP.
• White-glove support throughout: We stay on standby throughout the test, helping triage critical issues and keeping your team informed every step of the way.

» Understand the disasters you can avoid by tackling cybersecurity on time

3. After the Penetration Test: Post-Assessment and Reporting

Review and analyze test results: Conduct a thorough analysis of the findings from the test.

Assign responsibility for findings: Identify who within your organization is responsible for addressing each vulnerability.

Prioritize vulnerabilities: Classify vulnerabilities based on their severity and the potential impact on your organization.

Supporting remediation efforts: Establish an escalation plan for high-risk findings and ensure relevant development teams are aware of high-risk issues as they are reported.

Confirm documents received after engagement:

• Executive summary
• Technical summary
• Appendices
• Scope of the engagement
• Methodology and approach
• Testing team, including contact information for the assigned team
• Letter of attestation
• Final PDF report

Schedule a retest (if necessary): Plan for a follow-up test to ensure that vulnerabilities have been properly addressed.

» Need more help? Check out this guide for penetration testing, from pre-engagement to reporting

Ready to Get Started?

Need help preparing for your next penetration test?

Our experts go beyond basic scans to secure your real-world business logic. We'll work with you to create a testing approach that fits your unique environment and business needs.

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