Checklist / External exposure launch checklist
Make the launch footprint part of the release conversation.
A launch can introduce domains, applications, documentation, and vendor connections that deserve an outside view. Use this checklist alongside your existing release process to identify what should be public, who owns each asset, and which exposure questions still need an answer.
Prepare the public footprint
Visible assets
Domains, applications, APIs, and campaigns
Intended audiences
Customers, staff, and partners
Unanswered questions
Evidence needed before a release decision
Post-change checks
Selected fixes and revised asset scope
The release team needs an inventory, intended access, owners, and follow-up decisions.
01 / Checklist
List what the launch makes visible
Build a shared inventory of the public surfaces involved in the release. Include production and staging environments, campaign domains, documentation, public repositories, and third-party pages that represent the organization. Give each asset a named owner. Compare the intended list with the externally visible footprint so unexpected assets become explicit questions for the release team rather than assumptions.
FIELD NOTES
- Record domains, applications, APIs, documentation, and campaign pages.
- Distinguish production, staging, retired, and vendor-operated assets.
- Assign an owner to investigate every unexpected public surface.
02 / Checklist
Check the intended access and information boundaries
For each asset, describe its intended audience and the information it should expose. Public availability may be correct for a product page and unexpected for an administrative interface. Review what the available evidence establishes, then decide whether a focused validation is needed. Keep deeper testing inside an authorized scope and coordinate it with the teams responsible for the release.
FIELD NOTES
- Identify which interfaces are intended for customers, staff, or partners.
- Review public content for information that was not intended for release.
- Document unresolved access questions and the evidence needed to answer them.
03 / Checklist
Carry decisions into the release and follow-up
The assessment supports the release decision by making known exposure and uncertainty visible. Record required changes, accepted deferrals, and responsible owners in the release workflow. If the deployed footprint differs from the assessed version, decide what needs to be revisited. A follow-up should verify the agreed changes and cover any newly introduced assets included in the updated scope.
FIELD NOTES
- Connect each unresolved finding to an owner and release decision.
- Record material changes made after the assessment.
- Agree on post-change checks for the findings and assets that matter.