Customer Security Testing Rights

This question asks if you'll let your customers test your security themselves - essentially allowing them to verify your security claims by running their own scans and tests. It's like letting a potential buyer bring their own inspector to examine a house you're selling. Enterprise customers want this right because they need to verify that connecting to your service won't create vulnerabilities in their own systems. The key phrase 'mutually agreed upon time' means you can coordinate to avoid disrupting your service.

Saying 'no' to customer testing rights eliminates you from 65% of enterprise RFPs immediately - it's often a mandatory requirement. However, saying 'yes' without proper controls can lead to service disruptions and false positive security alerts. Companies that offer structured customer testing programs with clear rules of engagement close enterprise deals 50% faster and demonstrate confidence in their security. This transparency builds trust that can differentiate you from competitors and justify premium pricing.

The worst mistake is agreeing to unrestricted testing without establishing rules of engagement - uncontrolled testing can crash your systems or trigger false security incidents. Many companies also fail to require advance notice and coordination, leading to confusion when security alerts fire. Another pitfall is not having a process to share your own recent test results as an alternative, which many customers will accept instead of running their own tests.