Legal & Compliance
Professional penetration testing requires strict adherence to legal frameworks and industry standards. This section provides the necessary documentation and guidelines to ensure your testing is authorized and compliant.
Critical: Always Get Written Authorization
Penetration testing without explicit written permission is illegal in most jurisdictions. Even with the best intentions, unauthorized testing can result in criminal charges, civil liability, and career destruction.
📄 Downloadable Templates
Markdown format - easily convert to Word/PDFProfessional templates ready for your engagements. Customize with your company details and client information.
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Documentation Guides
1. Industry Standards
Overview of major methodologies including PTES, OSSTMM, OWASP, and NIST SP 800-115.
2. Rules of Engagement
A comprehensive template for defining the scope, timeline, and authorized activities for a penetration test.
3. Legal Considerations
Key legal frameworks affecting penetration testing in the US (CFAA) and internationally (GDPR, UK CMA).
4. Compliance Frameworks
Regulatory frameworks that mandate or recommend penetration testing, such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOC 2.
5. Pre-Engagement Checklist
Essential checklist to ensure all legal and technical requirements are met before testing begins.
Step-by-step interactive wizard to guide you through all pre-engagement requirements with progress tracking and export.
Country-specific legal requirements for US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Germany, and India.
Real-world legal situations and lessons learned from the Coalfire incident and anonymized cases.
Professional liability insurance requirements, coverage types, and how to protect your business.