SOP for Application VAPT
1. Pre-Assessment Preparation
- Identify boundaries of the assessment.
- Specify included areas and excluded components.
- Document specific requirements and objectives.
- Communicate scope to all stakeholders.
- List all applications within the defined scope.
- Evaluate the importance of each application.
- Prioritize applications based on risk and impact.
- Confirm the list with stakeholders.
- Collect all relevant architecture diagrams.
- Obtain previous VAPT reports for reference.
- Gather system design documents and user manuals.
- Ensure documentation is up-to-date.
- Draft and present NDAs and MSAs to stakeholders.
- Ensure all parties understand agreements.
- Obtain signed copies before proceeding.
- Store agreements securely for future reference.
- Select team members based on expertise.
- Define specific roles and responsibilities.
- Communicate expectations to each team member.
- Ensure team members are available for the assessment.
- Schedule a meeting with key stakeholders.
- Present VAPT objectives and scope.
- Encourage feedback and address concerns.
- Document meeting outcomes for future reference.
- Define preferred communication channels.
- Set regular update meetings and reports.
- Establish escalation procedures for issues.
- Ensure everyone has access to communication tools.
- Outline the overall testing schedule.
- Set specific milestones for each phase.
- Share timeline with the VAPT team.
- Adjust timelines based on stakeholder feedback.
- Analyze the application’s purpose and usage.
- Identify key functionalities and user roles.
- Assess its impact on business operations.
- Document findings for reference.
- Research applicable regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
- Document compliance requirements relevant to the application.
- Assess how these requirements affect the VAPT.
- Communicate findings to the VAPT team.
- Select appropriate frameworks for the assessment.
- Document chosen methodologies and rationale.
- Ensure team members are familiar with methodologies.
- Prepare to adapt methodologies as necessary.
- Identify technologies used in the application.
- Document hosting environment details (cloud, on-premises).
- Evaluate potential vulnerabilities in the stack.
- Communicate findings to the VAPT team.
- Identify risks that could disrupt the assessment.
- Develop mitigation strategies for each risk.
- Document the contingency plan clearly.
- Share the plan with the VAPT team.
- Identify required tools for the assessment.
- Ensure tools are installed and configured properly.
- Test tools to confirm functionality.
- Document tool configurations for reference.
- Define security protocols for the assessment.
- Establish data handling and storage procedures.
- Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
- Review security measures with the team.
- Define clear entry and exit criteria.
- Document criteria for stakeholder review.
- Confirm understanding and agreement among team.
- Ensure criteria are measurable and achievable.
- Outline how findings will be reported.
- Schedule regular updates with stakeholders.
- Define format and frequency of reports.
- Ensure all stakeholders are informed of the plan.
2. Risk Assessment
- Conduct a threat modeling exercise.
- Evaluate potential vulnerabilities and exploits.
- Analyze historical incidents and trends.
- Engage stakeholders for insights on risks.
- Document identified risks for further analysis.
- List all application components and data types.
- Classify data based on sensitivity and importance.
- Determine regulatory and compliance requirements.
- Consult with data owners for asset validation.
- Create an asset inventory for tracking.
- Establish criteria for risk prioritization.
- Score applications based on identified risks.
- Consider business impact and likelihood of occurrence.
- Rank applications to focus on high-risk items.
- Review and update priorities regularly.
3. Tool Selection
- Research industry-standard VAPT tools.
- Consider specific requirements of the application.
- Evaluate open-source vs. commercial options.
- Review tool documentation and community feedback.
- Select tools that cover both dynamic and static analysis.
- Check for recent updates from tool vendors.
- Download and apply latest signature files.
- Review change logs for significant updates.
- Verify vulnerability databases are current.
- Schedule regular updates to maintain tool effectiveness.
- Set up a dedicated testing environment.
- Run tools against sample applications.
- Evaluate results and adjust configurations as needed.
- Document any issues encountered during testing.
- Ensure compliance with organizational policies and standards.
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