1 Scope and goals

The first element of a VDP is to define its scope and goals. What types of vulnerabilities are covered by the policy? What systems, products, or services are in scope? What are the objectives and benefits of the policy for the organization and the reporters? How does the policy align with the organization's mission, values, and risk appetite? The scope and goals should be realistic, measurable, and consistent with the organization's capabilities and resources.

2 Reporting and communication

The second element of a VDP is to establish the reporting and communication channels and procedures. How can reporters submit vulnerability reports to the organization? What information should they provide and what format should they use? How will the organization acknowledge, validate, and prioritize the reports? How will the organization communicate with the reporters throughout the process? How will the organization disclose the vulnerabilities and the remediation actions to the public? The reporting and communication should be secure, transparent, and timely.

3 Incentives and protection

The third element of a VDP is to offer incentives and protection to the reporters. What rewards or recognition will the organization provide to the reporters for their contributions? How will the organization protect the reporters' identity, privacy, and legal rights? How will the organization handle malicious or fraudulent reports? How will the organization prevent or resolve conflicts or disputes with the reporters? The incentives and protection should be fair, ethical, and respectful.

4 Rules and expectations

The fourth element of a VDP is to set the rules and expectations for both the organization and the reporters. What are the dos and don'ts for the reporters when conducting vulnerability research and testing? What are the limitations and restrictions for the organization when responding to the reports? How will the organization ensure the quality and security of the remediation actions? How will the organization monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the policy? The rules and expectations should be clear, consistent, and enforceable.

5 Resources and references

The fifth element of a VDP is to provide resources and references for both the organization and the reporters. What tools, guides, or templates can the organization use to create, implement, and maintain the policy? What sources, standards, or best practices can the organization consult to improve the policy? What resources, contacts, or support can the reporters access to facilitate their reporting and communication? The resources and references should be relevant, reliable, and updated.

6 Feedback and improvement

The sixth element of a VDP is to solicit feedback and improvement from both the organization and the reporters. How can the organization collect and analyze feedback from the reporters, customers, stakeholders, and regulators on the policy? How can the organization incorporate feedback into the policy revision and update process? How can the reporters provide suggestions, comments, or complaints on the policy? How can the reporters learn from the organization's feedback and improvement actions? The feedback and improvement should be constructive, collaborative, and continuous.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?