Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT)
– Real-World Cyber Resilience Assessments
Traditional penetration tests focus on identifying technical vulnerabilities in IT systems. However, real-world attackers use sophisticated techniques tailored to specific targets. Is your organization resilient against actual cyber threats?
What Are the Benefits of TLPT?
Realistic assessment of cyber resilience
– tests simulate the tactics and techniques of advanced threat actors.
Evaluation of detection and response capabilities
– we assess how effectively SOC, SIEM, EDR, and XDR systems identify and contain threats.
Tailored to industry-specific threats
– threat modeling and attack scenarios are aligned with your organization’s sector and risk profile.
Regulatory and standards compliance
– TLPT tests follow frameworks such as TIBER-EU, CBEST, iCAST, and STAR-FS used in financial and critical infrastructure sectors.
What is TLPT and how does it work?
Threat-Led Penetration Testing is a methodology that bases security testing on real-world threats observed in a specific industry. Rather than focusing solely on vulnerability scanning, TLPT simulates a full attack lifecycle, assessing the effectiveness of an organization’s detection and response mechanisms.
Key testing areas include:
- APT-style attacks (Advanced Persistent Threats) – scenarios based on techniques used by cybercriminal and state-sponsored groups.
- Privilege escalation and lateral movement – testing whether an intruder can move across systems and access critical resources.
- Social engineering and account takeover – evaluating user susceptibility and identity protection mechanisms.
- Supply chain attacks – assessing the security posture of vendors and third-party system integrations.
- Detection system resilience – testing SOC, SIEM, EDR, and XDR capabilities in real-time incident detection.
TLPT helps organizations understand whether their defenses work effectively under real-world attack conditions.
Tools and Techniques We Use
We simulate advanced adversary behavior by combining Red Teaming, social engineering, and threat intelligence:
- MITRE ATT&CK & TTP-based testing – applying techniques used by known APT groups.
- Cobalt Strike & Metasploit – simulating APT attacks, lateral movement, and data exfiltration.
- BloodHound & Mimikatz – analyzing Active Directory environments and testing privilege escalation paths.
- OSINT & Threat Intelligence – using real-world threat data specific to your industry and region.
- Burp Suite & Evilginx – testing web application vulnerabilities and identity compromise.
Our TLPT engagements comply with TIBER-EU, CBEST, iCAST, NIST, and ISO 27001 standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is TLPT different from standard penetration testing?
Traditional penetration tests identify technical vulnerabilities. TLPT simulates real cyberattacks and evaluates your organization’s ability to detect and respond.
Can TLPT disrupt production systems?
No. Tests are conducted in a controlled manner under predefined rules of engagement to avoid disruption to business operations.
How long does a TLPT engagement take?
The full TLPT process typically spans several weeks to months and includes threat modeling, attack simulation, and organizational response assessment.
Who should consider TLPT?
TLPT is especially recommended for financial institutions, energy providers, critical infrastructure operators, multinational corporations, and organizations at risk of nation-state attacks.
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