Prior to conducting any type of penetration test, the pentester needs to engage the client to ensure that all the appropriate information is obtained. During the target scoping phase, the penetration tester will gather information from the client that will be used to generate target assessment requirements, define the parameters for testing, and the client's business objectives and time schedule. This process plays an important role in defining clear objectives toward any kind of security assessment. By determining these key objectives, one can easily draw a practical road map of what will be tested, how it will be tested, what resources will be allocated, what limitations will be applied, what business objectives will be achieved, and how the test project will be planned and scheduled. All of this information is finally captured in a test plan that expressly states what the scoping of the test will be.

We can combine all of these elements and present them in a formalized...