VAPT Prep Guide
Security Testing Made Simple: The Ultimate VAPT Preparation Guide
I have to be real honest here and say that all the stuff outlined below are LLM generated. I just wanted to put this on here because in all the VAPT engagements I have been involved in, there is always a recurring issue of prep from the client side. This occurs at least 3 out of 5 engagements. It’s a little frustrating for both sides because it delays the project by days to weeks sometimes and on our end we need to adjust the scheduling of our testers too.
Anyway, take this with a pinch of salt, and adjust it to your organizational needs and context. What the LLM outlined below is just a sample.
Note: I have had this in my draft since March actually, things have been busy since then, hence the delay.
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Why Every Organization Needs This
Think of this as your “security testing emergency kit.” Just like you wouldn’t wait until you’re sick to buy medicine, don’t wait until you need a security assessment to gather critical information.
The benefits are immediate:
- No more last-minute scrambling
- More thorough testing (nothing gets missed)
- Faster turnaround times
- Better remediation planning
- Clear accountability
The VAPT Prep Template
Here’s a simple, ready-to-use template that covers exactly what you need – nothing more, nothing less:
# VAPT Preparation Document
## Quick Reference
- **Last Updated**: [Date]
- **Version**: 1.0
- **Document Owner**: [Name]
## What's This Document For?
This document contains all information needed for security testing (VAPT) of our application. It should be reviewed and updated quarterly or whenever significant changes occur.
## Common Terms
- **VAPT**: Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (security testing)
- **Scope**: What's included in the testing
- **Test/UAT**: Testing environment (not production)
- **Prod**: Live/Production environment
- **API**: How applications talk to each other
## 1. Application Overview
### Basic Information
- **Application Name**:
- **Business Purpose**: _(What does it do? Who uses it?)_
- **Key Stakeholders**:
* **App Owner**: _(Who makes business decisions about this app?)_
* **Tech Lead**: _(Who knows the technical details?)_
* **Security Contact**: _(Who handles security concerns?)_
### Technical Summary
- **Application Type**: _(Web app, Mobile app, API service, etc.)_
- **User Access**: _(Public, Internal only, Partners, etc.)_
- **Tech Stack**: _(Main languages, frameworks, platforms)_
- **Hosting**: _(Cloud provider, Data center, etc.)_
- **Data Sensitivity**: _(Does it handle customer data, payments, etc.?)_
## 2. Access Details
### Environments
| Environment | URL | IP Address(es) | Special Access Requirements |
|-------------|-----|----------------|----------------------------|
| Production | | | |
| Testing | | | |
| Development | | | |
### Test Accounts
| Role | Username | Password | Notes |
|------|----------|----------|-------|
| | | | |
| | | | |
### Authentication Method
- **Login Type**: _(Username/password, SSO, OAuth, etc.)_
- **MFA Enabled?**: Yes/No
- **Session Timeout**:
## 3. Architecture Basics
### Components
- **Frontend**: _(What users see and interact with)_
- **Backend**: _(Server-side processing)_
- **Database**: _(Where data is stored)_
- **File Storage**: _(If applicable)_
### Key Integrations
- **External Services**: _(Payment processors, Email services, etc.)_
- **APIs**: _(Both consumed and provided)_
- **Third-party Components**: _(Libraries, plugins, etc.)_
### Simple Diagram
_(Insert a basic diagram or link to one - even a hand-drawn one is better than nothing!)_
## 4. Testing Guidelines
### Testing Windows
- **Preferred Testing Hours**:
- **Blackout Periods**: _(When testing should not occur)_
- **Environment to Test**: _(UAT preferred; production only if necessary)_
### Scope Boundaries
- **In Scope**: _(What should be tested)_
- **Out of Scope**: _(What should NOT be tested)_
### Special Considerations
- **Known Issues**: _(Already identified problems)_
- **Sensitive Functionality**: _(Features requiring special care)_
- **Rate Limiting/Monitoring**: _(Anything that might trigger alerts)_
## 5. Emergency Information
### Contacts
| Role | Name | Email | Phone |
|------|------|-------|-------|
| Primary Contact | | | |
| Technical Backup | | | |
| Security Team | | | |
### Incident Process
- **If testing causes disruption**: _(Steps to take)_
- **How to report critical findings**: _(Process for urgent issues)_
## 6. Approval
- **App Owner**: _________________________ Date: _________
- **Tech Lead**: _________________________ Date: _________
- **Security Lead**: ______________________ Date: _________
How to Implement This in Your Organization
For Small Teams (1-20 people)
- Start Simple: Fill out what you know, leave the rest blank
- Single Owner: Assign one person to maintain this document
- Store Centrally: Keep it somewhere everyone can access (but secure)
- Review Quarterly: Calendar reminder to check if it’s still accurate
For Medium Organizations (20-200 people)
- Template per Application: Create one for each critical application
- Ownership by Team: Each team maintains their own documents
- Security Review: Have your security person review for completeness
- Link to Asset Inventory: Connect to your existing asset management
For Larger Organizations (200+ people)
- Integrate with Processes: Make this part of your SDLC/application onboarding
- Automate Where Possible: Pull data from CMDBs, IAM systems, etc.
- Governance: Include in security reviews and audits
- Scale with Templates: Create variations for different application types
Common Questions
“We don’t have all this information. Should we wait until we do?”
No! Start with what you have. A partially completed document is infinitely more valuable than no document at all.
“How technical should we get?”
Keep it simple. This isn’t architectural documentation – it’s a quick reference guide for security testers. Include just enough detail to help them do their job effectively.
“Who should complete this?”
Ideally, a collaboration between the people who know the application best (developers, product managers) and those responsible for security.
“How often should we update it?”
At minimum, quarterly. Additionally, update it whenever significant changes occur to the application.
Real-World Success Story
A fintech startup I worked with implemented this template for their main product. When an urgent compliance audit came up, they were able to:
- Start testing immediately (no prep delay)
- Complete the assessment 40% faster than estimated
- Find 30% more vulnerabilities (better coverage)
- Fix issues more efficiently (clear ownership)
All from a simple document that took less than an hour to create.
Next Steps
- Copy the template: Take the markdown template above
- Start with one application: Your most important or most frequently tested
- Set a calendar reminder: Schedule regular reviews
- Share with stakeholders: Make sure everyone knows it exists
Security doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest tools make the biggest difference.
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