- 01Bug bounty programs are a force multiplier for application security teams that have the internal capacity to triage and remediate. Without that capacity, the program produces angry researchers and unfixed vulnerabilities.
- 02Pre-launch checklist: clear scope (what is in, what is out, with examples), triage capacity (named team with response SLAs), bounty budget (initial pool and ongoing replenishment), internal escalation path (when a P1 lands, what happens), disclosure policy (coordinated, with timeline).
- 03Scope discipline: underspecified scope produces low-value reports (out-of-scope dupes) and frustrated researchers. Highly specific scope, with explicit out-of-scope guidance and example reports of past valid submissions, raises the average submission quality dramatically.
- 04Operational rhythm: triage within 24 hours, initial response (acknowledged, severity assessed) within 72 hours, bounty paid within 30 days of confirmed validity, monthly metrics report (submissions, triage time, average bounty, top researchers). The discipline keeps researchers engaged and the program signal high.
Bug bounty programs are a force multiplier for application security teams that have the internal capacity to triage and remediate. Without that capacity, the program produces angry researchers and unfixed vulnerabilities.
Pre-launch checklist
- 01Clear scope — what is in, what is out, with examples
- 02Triage capacity — named team with response SLAs
- 03Bounty budget — both initial pool and ongoing replenishment
- 04Internal escalation path — when a P1 lands, what happens
- 05Disclosure policy — coordinated, with timeline
Scope discipline
Underspecified scope produces low-value reports (out-of-scope dupes) and frustrated researchers. Highly specific scope, with explicit out-of-scope guidance and example reports of past valid submissions, raises the average submission quality dramatically.
What good operational rhythm looks like
Triage within 24 hours. Initial response (acknowledged, severity assessed) within 72 hours. Bounty paid within 30 days of confirmed validity. Monthly metrics report — submissions, triage time, average bounty, top researchers. The discipline keeps researchers engaged and the program signal high.