Release and handoff

Define the target before release

Confirm the destination environment, owner, access requirements and deployment process. Development, evaluation and production environments can have different controls and data. Hosting options and deployment automation are established for the engagement; an application that runs in a demonstration environment is not automatically ready for the customer’s production environment.

Assemble the delivery package

• The release identifier and a summary of included changes.
• The approved scope, acceptance results and known limitations.
• Configuration and integration instructions without embedded secrets.
• Deployment, rollback and recovery procedures appropriate to the environment.
• User and administrator guidance, support contacts and operating ownership.
• Security evidence and unresolved findings relevant to the release.

Verify the deployed version

After deployment, check the version, application health, sign-in, key workflows and required integrations. Record failures and follow the agreed rollback or repair process. Confirm that monitoring and support routing work before treating the handoff as complete.

Complete the operational handoff

The receiving team should know how to grant and revoke access, review failures, manage configuration and obtain support. Agree who maintains dependencies, rotates credentials, reviews findings and authorizes later changes. Delivery documents support that transfer; they do not replace the operator’s confirmation that the service can be sustained.