sdlc audit detailed checklist

1. Planning and Requirements Gathering

  • Gather input from key stakeholders.
  • Document goals in a clear, concise manner.
  • Align objectives with business strategy.
  • Ensure goals are measurable and time-bound.
  • Review and validate with stakeholders.
  • Collect requirements from all relevant parties.
  • Document requirements in a structured format.
  • Circulate documentation for feedback.
  • Obtain formal approval from stakeholders.
  • Store approved requirements in a centralized location.
  • Conduct a feasibility study covering technical, operational, and financial aspects.
  • Identify potential risks associated with the project.
  • Document findings and recommendations.
  • Review with stakeholders for input.
  • Obtain approval for the feasibility study.
  • Develop user stories or use cases based on stakeholder input.
  • Ensure they capture functional requirements clearly.
  • Review with stakeholders for completeness.
  • Revise based on feedback.
  • Finalize and store approved stories or use cases.
  • Create a stakeholder list including roles and responsibilities.
  • Reach out to stakeholders for involvement.
  • Schedule regular check-ins or updates.
  • Encourage feedback and participation.
  • Document stakeholder contributions and decisions.
  • Define project deliverables and objectives.
  • Clarify what is included and excluded.
  • Document scope in a project charter.
  • Review with stakeholders for alignment.
  • Communicate boundaries to the project team.
  • Gather existing documents such as reports, surveys, or user feedback.
  • Analyze data for trends and insights.
  • Summarize findings in a report.
  • Share with stakeholders for validation.
  • Incorporate relevant insights into requirements.
  • Plan sessions to engage users and stakeholders.
  • Prepare questions or topics for discussion.
  • Facilitate sessions to encourage open dialogue.
  • Record responses and insights.
  • Analyze feedback to refine requirements.
  • Develop a prioritization matrix.
  • Evaluate each requirement against criteria.
  • Engage stakeholders to confirm priorities.
  • Document prioritized list.
  • Ensure alignment with project goals.
  • Create a matrix format linking requirements to goals.
  • Include unique identifiers for each requirement.
  • Document status and dependencies.
  • Review with stakeholders for accuracy.
  • Update matrix regularly as requirements evolve.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to establish criteria.
  • Document criteria for each requirement.
  • Ensure criteria are clear and measurable.
  • Review acceptance criteria with the project team.
  • Revise based on feedback before finalization.
  • Define procedures for submitting change requests.
  • Identify who approves changes and how.
  • Document changes in a change log.
  • Communicate changes to all stakeholders.
  • Review impact on project scope and timelines.
  • Set a recurring schedule for meetings.
  • Prepare agenda focusing on requirements.
  • Invite relevant stakeholders to participate.
  • Document meeting minutes and action items.
  • Follow-up on action items before next meeting.
  • Identify applicable regulations and standards.
  • Review requirements for compliance.
  • Document compliance measures taken.
  • Engage legal or compliance teams for review.
  • Maintain records of compliance assessments.
  • Define communication methods and frequency.
  • Identify key messages to share.
  • Assign responsibilities for communication tasks.
  • Document the communication plan.
  • Review and adjust the plan as needed.

2. Design

  • Ensure all requirements are documented.
  • Cross-check design documents against requirement specifications.
  • Identify any discrepancies and address them.
  • Confirm stakeholder approval of design documents.
  • Research industry standards and best practices.
  • Compare architectural choices with established guidelines.
  • Document any deviations and their justifications.
  • Engage experts for an independent review if necessary.
  • Identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Incorporate security measures such as encryption.
  • Review compliance with security regulations.
  • Conduct threat modeling sessions with the team.
  • Gather feedback from user testing sessions.
  • Ensure design aligns with user personas.
  • Review UI components for consistency and usability.
  • Conduct heuristic evaluations to identify usability issues.
  • Evaluate system architecture for scalability options.
  • Identify bottlenecks that may hinder growth.
  • Document scalability strategies in design documents.
  • Engage stakeholders in discussing future requirements.
  • Review internal design policies and standards.
  • Cross-check design elements with organizational guidelines.
  • Document any deviations and obtain necessary approvals.
  • Involve compliance team to validate adherence.
  • Research relevant design patterns for the project.
  • Assess framework compatibility with project requirements.
  • Document rationale for chosen patterns and frameworks.
  • Conduct a peer review of design choices.
  • Schedule walkthrough sessions with key stakeholders.
  • Prepare presentation of design elements.
  • Document feedback and action items.
  • Iterate on design based on stakeholder input.
  • Review diagrams for accuracy against functional requirements.
  • Ensure all entities and relationships are represented.
  • Validate data flow for completeness.
  • Solicit feedback from data architects or analysts.
  • Identify all integration points within the design.
  • Assess data formats and protocols for compatibility.
  • Document integration dependencies and requirements.
  • Engage with external system owners for alignment.
  • Review design against WCAG guidelines.
  • Incorporate features for assistive technologies.
  • Conduct accessibility testing with diverse users.
  • Document compliance status and areas for improvement.
  • Define error handling strategies in the design.
  • Ensure logging mechanisms capture relevant information.
  • Document logging levels and retention policies.
  • Conduct a review of error handling scenarios.
  • Identify performance bottlenecks in the design.
  • Document caching strategies and their implementation.
  • Review load balancing options and configurations.
  • Conduct performance testing to validate optimizations.
  • Identify critical components for disaster recovery.
  • Document recovery procedures and timelines.
  • Ensure redundancy is built into the design.
  • Conduct risk assessments for potential failures.
  • Identify regions and languages for localization.
  • Document design requirements for internationalization.
  • Ensure text and elements are adaptable for localization.
  • Engage with localization experts for guidance.
  • Ensure all design documents are version-controlled.
  • Document versioning strategy and naming conventions.
  • Conduct audits of version history for compliance.
  • Train team members on version control processes.
  • Review design documents for thoroughness.
  • Ensure all design decisions and rationale are documented.
  • Include onboarding materials for new team members.
  • Solicit feedback from team members on documentation clarity.

3. Development

  • Select a version control system (e.g., Git).
  • Create a repository for the project.
  • Establish branching strategies (e.g., Git Flow).
  • Train team members on version control best practices.
  • Regularly commit changes with meaningful messages.
  • Define a clear set of coding standards.
  • Distribute coding guidelines to all developers.
  • Use linters or static analysis tools to enforce standards.
  • Conduct periodic training sessions on coding practices.
  • Review code for adherence to standards during code reviews.
  • Establish a code review process and criteria.
  • Schedule regular code review sessions.
  • Encourage constructive feedback among peers.
  • Document review outcomes and follow up on suggestions.
  • Rotate reviewers to ensure diverse perspectives.
  • Integrate security practices into the development process.
  • Conduct threat modeling sessions early in development.
  • Use automated tools to scan for vulnerabilities.
  • Provide training on secure coding techniques.
  • Review code specifically for security issues during peer reviews.
  • Select a version control system (e.g., Git).
  • Create a repository for the project.
  • Establish branching strategies (e.g., Git Flow).
  • Train team members on version control best practices.
  • Regularly commit changes with meaningful messages.
  • Define a clear set of coding standards.
  • Distribute coding guidelines to all developers.
  • Use linters or static analysis tools to enforce standards.
  • Conduct periodic training sessions on coding practices.
  • Review code for adherence to standards during code reviews.
  • Establish a code review process and criteria.
  • Schedule regular code review sessions.
  • Encourage constructive feedback among peers.
  • Document review outcomes and follow up on suggestions.
  • Rotate reviewers to ensure diverse perspectives.
  • Integrate security practices into the development process.
  • Conduct threat modeling sessions early in development.
  • Use automated tools to scan for vulnerabilities.
  • Provide training on secure coding techniques.
  • Review code specifically for security issues during peer reviews.

4. Testing

  • Assess clarity and completeness of strategy and plan.
  • Check alignment with project goals and requirements.
  • Ensure all testing types are covered in documentation.
  • Review timelines and resource allocations outlined.
  • Confirm unit tests cover all functions and methods.
  • Check integration tests validate interactions between modules.
  • Ensure system tests evaluate the entire application.
  • Review testing outcomes for all three testing types.
  • Verify UAT is conducted with real user scenarios.
  • Check documentation of user feedback and results.
  • Ensure issues identified during UAT are tracked.
  • Confirm sign-off from stakeholders after UAT completion.
  • Identify areas where automation can improve efficiency.
  • Review automation scripts for accuracy and coverage.
  • Ensure regular maintenance of automated tests.
  • Evaluate integration of automated tests in CI/CD pipelines.
  • Cross-check test cases against requirements documents.
  • Ensure coverage of both functional and non-functional needs.
  • Review traceability matrix for completeness.
  • Confirm test cases are updated with any requirement changes.
  • Evaluate the source and quality of test data.
  • Ensure data reflects real-world scenarios.
  • Check for data privacy and compliance considerations.
  • Review the process for managing test data.
  • Verify all defects are logged in a tracking system.
  • Check prioritization process for severity and impact.
  • Ensure regular reviews of defect status are conducted.
  • Confirm resolutions are tested and documented.
  • Ensure regression tests cover affected areas of the application.
  • Verify tests are executed in a timely manner post-fix.
  • Review results to confirm no new defects are introduced.
  • Document any issues found during regression testing.
  • Review performance benchmarks against stated requirements.
  • Assess system behavior under peak load conditions.
  • Check for identification of bottlenecks and performance issues.
  • Document results and recommendations for improvement.
  • Verify comprehensive security testing is conducted.
  • Check alignment with industry security standards.
  • Assess findings for critical vulnerabilities.
  • Ensure remediation plans are in place for identified issues.
  • Ensure tests cover a range of browsers and devices.
  • Check for adherence to responsive design principles.
  • Review issues found and their resolutions.
  • Document results for future reference.
  • Ensure test results are documented clearly and comprehensively.
  • Check for metrics that indicate quality trends.
  • Review documentation for accessibility by stakeholders.
  • Confirm follow-up actions are based on findings.
  • Verify testing environment setup matches production settings.
  • Ensure data and configurations reflect live environment.
  • Check for regular updates to the testing environment.
  • Document procedures for environment maintenance.
  • Review project schedule for testing phases.
  • Check adherence to planned timelines.
  • Identify any delays and assess impacts.
  • Document reasons for any timeline deviations.
  • Collect feedback from varied user groups.
  • Assess responses for common themes and issues.
  • Document feedback and action items.
  • Ensure follow-up on stakeholder concerns.
  • Check training materials and sessions provided.
  • Verify participant understanding and competency.
  • Document training completion and feedback.
  • Ensure ongoing support is available for tools.

5. Deployment

  • Review existing documentation for clarity and completeness.
  • Conduct tests to ensure procedures are effective.
  • Update documentation based on test results.
  • Share documentation with relevant team members.
  • Assess the current change management policies.
  • Ensure processes align with deployment needs.
  • Identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
  • Document findings and communicate changes.
  • Create comprehensive rollback plans for each deployment.
  • Conduct tests to validate the effectiveness of rollback procedures.
  • Document the rollback process clearly.
  • Train team members on executing rollback procedures.
  • Develop training materials tailored to end-user needs.
  • Conduct training sessions with users prior to deployment.
  • Gather feedback to improve training materials.
  • Ensure documentation is accessible to all users.
  • Review existing documentation for clarity and completeness.
  • Conduct tests to ensure procedures are effective.
  • Update documentation based on test results.
  • Share documentation with relevant team members.
  • Assess the current change management policies.
  • Ensure processes align with deployment needs.
  • Identify any gaps or areas for improvement.
  • Document findings and communicate changes.
  • Create comprehensive rollback plans for each deployment.
  • Conduct tests to validate the effectiveness of rollback procedures.
  • Document the rollback process clearly.
  • Train team members on executing rollback procedures.
  • Develop training materials tailored to end-user needs.
  • Conduct training sessions with users prior to deployment.
  • Gather feedback to improve training materials.
  • Ensure documentation is accessible to all users.

6. Maintenance and Support

  • Document the maintenance plan clearly.
  • Assign responsibilities for maintenance tasks.
  • Schedule regular review meetings to assess compliance.
  • Ensure plan includes timelines for updates and reviews.
  • Communicate plan details to all relevant stakeholders.
  • Document support process workflows.
  • Provide multiple channels for user support (e.g., email, chat).
  • Assign support personnel and clarify roles.
  • Establish response time expectations for inquiries.
  • Train staff on effective communication with users.
  • Evaluate current incident management framework.
  • Ensure procedures are documented and accessible.
  • Analyze past incidents for trends and root causes.
  • Test incident response capabilities through simulations.
  • Update procedures based on feedback and findings.
  • Establish a schedule for updates and patches.
  • Create a checklist for necessary updates.
  • Test updates in a staging environment prior to deployment.
  • Document all updates and their impacts.
  • Communicate updates to users in advance.
  • Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring.
  • Utilize monitoring tools for real-time data collection.
  • Set up alerts for performance thresholds.
  • Review performance reports regularly.
  • Implement corrective actions for identified issues.
  • Create a user-friendly feedback submission form.
  • Encourage users to provide detailed information.
  • Regularly review feedback for actionable insights.
  • Communicate changes made based on user feedback.
  • Ensure anonymity for sensitive feedback submissions.
  • Schedule periodic reviews of documentation.
  • Incorporate user feedback into documentation updates.
  • Ensure documentation is easily accessible online.
  • Train staff on using and updating the knowledge base.
  • Archive outdated information appropriately.
  • Establish a backup schedule and retention policy.
  • Conduct regular tests of backup and recovery processes.
  • Document the results of tests and any issues encountered.
  • Ensure that staff are trained on recovery procedures.
  • Review and update recovery plans based on test outcomes.
  • Identify applicable security standards and regulations.
  • Conduct regular compliance audits to assess adherence.
  • Document compliance findings and corrective actions.
  • Provide training on compliance requirements to staff.
  • Update security policies based on regulatory changes.
  • Review SLAs for clarity and completeness.
  • Collect data on support response times and outcomes.
  • Analyze SLA compliance regularly.
  • Discuss SLA performance with support teams.
  • Adjust SLAs based on performance evaluations.
  • Develop a training schedule for support staff.
  • Create training materials for new features and updates.
  • Incorporate common issues into training sessions.
  • Encourage staff to provide feedback on training effectiveness.
  • Document training attendance and topics covered.
  • Establish a formal change request process.
  • Document all changes and their impacts.
  • Review changes with relevant stakeholders before implementation.
  • Set up a communication plan for upcoming changes.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of changes post-implementation.
  • Collect data on support ticket volume and types.
  • Identify patterns and recurring issues from ticket analysis.
  • Prioritize addressing common problems in future updates.
  • Share findings with relevant teams for action.
  • Continuously monitor ticket trends for emerging issues.
  • Assess the impact of legacy systems on current operations.
  • Develop a phased plan for transitioning from legacy systems.
  • Ensure data migration is secure and accurate.
  • Document integration procedures thoroughly.
  • Communicate transition plans to all stakeholders.

7. Documentation and Compliance

  • Conduct a thorough review of all existing documentation.
  • Identify any gaps or outdated information.
  • Update documents to reflect current processes and standards.
  • Set a schedule for regular documentation reviews.
  • Review applicable regulations and standards for relevance.
  • Conduct compliance assessments against these standards.
  • Document any non-compliance issues and remediation plans.
  • Maintain records of compliance checks and results.
  • Ensure logging mechanisms are in place for critical actions.
  • Review logs for completeness and accuracy.
  • Verify that logs are securely stored and accessible.
  • Implement processes for regular log reviews.
  • Review existing data protection policies for relevance.
  • Ensure policies comply with applicable laws and regulations.
  • Train staff on data protection and privacy policies.
  • Document any policy breaches and corrective actions.
  • Collect UAT documentation from relevant teams.
  • Verify stakeholder signatures on validation forms.
  • Ensure feedback from stakeholders is incorporated.
  • Check for alignment with initial project requirements.
  • Review change management policy and procedures.
  • Confirm all changes are logged in the change register.
  • Ensure changes are approved by relevant authorities.
  • Monitor compliance with the documented processes.
  • Compile a list of all software licenses in use.
  • Check expiration dates and renewal status.
  • Ensure compliance with licensing terms and conditions.
  • Document any non-compliance issues and resolutions.
  • Review current security policies for completeness.
  • Verify regular updates are logged and dated.
  • Ensure policies reflect current security best practices.
  • Distribute updated policies to all relevant personnel.
  • Gather all training materials and user guides.
  • Ensure materials are stored in a centralized location.
  • Verify accessibility for all end-users.
  • Solicit feedback on the effectiveness of the materials.
  • Review incident response plan for completeness.
  • Confirm regular testing drills are conducted.
  • Document results of tests and any improvements needed.
  • Ensure all team members are aware of their roles.
  • Check the version control system for all documentation.
  • Ensure all changes are tracked with comments.
  • Verify that rollback procedures are documented.
  • Assess adherence to version control policies.
  • Review documentation structure for alignment.
  • Ensure terminology matches the chosen methodology.
  • Check for consistency in processes and artifacts.
  • Solicit feedback from project management stakeholders.
  • Check for all necessary technical documentation components.
  • Ensure architecture diagrams are up-to-date.
  • Verify API documentation includes all endpoints.
  • Gather feedback from development teams on documentation quality.
  • Identify key documentation requiring stakeholder approval.
  • Collect signatures or confirmations of review.
  • Document any changes requested by stakeholders.
  • Ensure final versions reflect stakeholder input.
  • Identify storage solutions for documentation.
  • Ensure access controls are in place.
  • Verify backup procedures for documentation storage.
  • Document audit trails for access and changes.
  • Compile a list of identified technical debt.
  • Document associated risks and mitigation strategies.
  • Assign responsibilities for addressing technical debt.
  • Review regularly to track progress and updates.

8. Continuous Improvement

  • Identify key user groups and stakeholders.
  • Create surveys or feedback forms tailored to user experiences.
  • Schedule regular feedback sessions or interviews.
  • Analyze collected feedback for actionable insights.
  • Document findings and share with relevant teams.
  • Create a centralized repository for lessons learned.
  • Encourage team members to contribute to the repository.
  • Review documented lessons at the end of each project.
  • Integrate relevant lessons into project planning and execution.
  • Share lessons across teams to promote wider learning.
  • Schedule periodic SDLC reviews with stakeholders.
  • Evaluate current processes against established benchmarks.
  • Identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement.
  • Document recommendations for enhancing SDLC efficiency.
  • Implement changes and monitor their impact.
  • Assess current skill levels and training needs.
  • Develop a training plan that addresses identified gaps.
  • Schedule regular training sessions and workshops.
  • Encourage attendance at industry conferences or seminars.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs.
  • Define key performance indicators (KPIs) for each phase.
  • Set targets for project timelines, quality, and budget.
  • Regularly collect and analyze performance data.
  • Adjust processes based on metric outcomes.
  • Report findings to stakeholders for transparency.
  • Choose a defect tracking tool that fits team needs.
  • Establish a process for logging issues promptly.
  • Analyze defect data to identify root causes.
  • Prioritize issues based on impact and severity.
  • Implement corrective actions and monitor for effectiveness.
  • Schedule meetings shortly after project completion.
  • Encourage open discussion about successes and challenges.
  • Document key takeaways and action items.
  • Assign responsibility for implementing recommendations.
  • Follow up on action items in future meetings.
  • Create a platform for submitting improvement ideas.
  • Recognize and reward innovative suggestions.
  • Incorporate brainstorming sessions into team meetings.
  • Establish a review process for evaluating suggestions.
  • Implement viable ideas and track their impact.
  • Research current trends in software development.
  • Attend webinars and read industry publications.
  • Benchmark against competitors and industry leaders.
  • Identify practices that could enhance current SDLC.
  • Pilot new practices and evaluate their effectiveness.
  • Identify areas suitable for automation in the SDLC.
  • Research and select appropriate tools.
  • Train team members on using automation tools.
  • Set up dashboards for real-time monitoring.
  • Regularly review tool effectiveness and adjust as needed.
  • Establish communication channels between teams.
  • Regularly gather insights from maintenance and support.
  • Document feedback and categorize by relevance.
  • Integrate findings into the design process.
  • Monitor the impact of changes based on feedback.
  • Develop an audit schedule outlining frequency and scope.
  • Assign audit teams with clear roles and responsibilities.
  • Review compliance against established standards.
  • Document audit findings and recommendations.
  • Follow up on corrective actions from audits.
  • Organize regular knowledge-sharing meetings or workshops.
  • Encourage team members to present case studies.
  • Create a shared platform for documentation and resources.
  • Invite guest speakers from other teams or industries.
  • Facilitate informal discussions to share experiences.
  • Involve UX/UI designers from the project inception.
  • Conduct usability testing at various stages.
  • Gather user feedback on design prototypes.
  • Iterate on designs based on user insights.
  • Monitor user satisfaction post-deployment.

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