Penetration Testing – TLPT
ATTACK SIMULATION, RELIABLE PROTECTION: THREAT-LED PENETRATION TESTING (TLPT)
Test your organization’s cyber resilience with threat-led penetration testing that assesses the effectiveness of its IT systems and security measures based on realistic attack scenarios.
Would you like to protect your IT systems from threats?
Your security systems are working.
The question is: would they detect a targeted attack before it causes damage?
If you are unsure of the answer, Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) is the solution.
Cybersecurity weaknesses often lie beyond what organizations test today
Many organizations believe that running a vulnerability assessment, strengthening their firewalls and holding a few certifications makes them secure. In reality, most attacks do not happen where or how checklists suggest.
Attackers use targeted methods: they look for human error, weak processes or misconfigurations — and often succeed without the organization noticing. Threat-Led Penetration Testing, or TLPT, addresses exactly this issue. Through simulations based on realistic attack scenarios and focused on business-critical objectives, it reveals where genuine exposure exists — not only at a technical level.
Threath-Led Penetration Testing
Simulating realistic attacks, with real-world insights
Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) is a comprehensive security testing methodology that assesses an organization’s defensive capabilities based on realistic attack scenarios. In addition to identifying previously unknown vulnerabilities, it shows whether the organization detects the attack and how it responds.
During TLPT, instead of running generic tests, we design the attack scenario based on a preliminary threat model, taking into account the organization’s industry environment, technology and business operations. This may include phishing, denial-of-service attacks, gaining internal access or even social engineering.
The result is more than a technical report: TLPT uncovers the real weaknesses in the defense chain — from technical, process and human perspectives.
Continuous improvement
TLPT is not just a one-time test. Its findings provide a basis for continuously improving security systems and processes, thereby strengthening defensive capabilities.
Fine-tuning technological defenses
The attack scenarios reveal blind spots in firewalls, EDR systems and log analysis tools.
Improving processes and incident response
The test reveals how processes and decision-making chains based on real alerts function in practice.
Strengthening awareness
Training, education or internal workflow improvements based on the results.
Red Team and Blue Team
Simulation of attack and defense
In cybersecurity, Red Team and Blue Team exercises play a key role in testing and improving organizations’ defensive capabilities.
Red Team – From the attackers’ perspective
The Red Team consists of ethical hackers who attempt to breach the organization’s systems using the methods of real attackers. Their goal is to uncover vulnerabilities by exploiting technical, human and process weaknesses.
Blue Team – The first line of defense
The Blue Team is the organization’s defensive team, responsible for detecting attacks, managing incidents and maintaining system security. By responding to attacks simulated by the Red Team, the Blue Team improves defensive strategies.
Purple Team – The key to collaboration
The Purple Team facilitates cooperation between the Red and Blue Teams, ensuring communication and knowledge sharing. This synergy enables the organization to continuously improve its cybersecurity maturity.
During Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT), integrating Red and Blue Team exercises enables realistic attack scenarios and defensive strategies to be tested, helping to strengthen the organization’s cyber resilience.
European Union – DORA compliance
Mandatory TLPT in the financial sector
The purpose of the EU’s regulation, DORA, the Digital Operational Resilience Act, is to ensure that financial organizations not only respond to cyber threats but proactively test their resilience using realistic attack scenarios. The regulation requires them to regularly conduct Threat-Led Penetration Testing assessments using a threat-led methodology rather than generic tests.
Key DORA requirements for TLPT:
The tests must be based on a risk assessment using real threat intelligence.
Threat-led penetration testing must be performed by an independent third party using an objective methodology.
The assessment must focus on vulnerabilities in business-critical systems.
Detailed documentation of the results and sharing them with the relevant authorities are mandatory.
The purpose of the entire process is to protect business continuity even in the event of an attack.
TIBER-EU and CBEST: methodological foundations
DORA’s TLPT requirements are fully aligned with the TIBER-EU and CBEST frameworks, which provide standards for threat-led security testing across Europe..
Comparison of security methods
What are the differences and similarities between the assessment types?
| Jellemző | Sérülékenységvizsgálat | Penetrációs teszt | Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) |
| Cél | Sérülékenységek gyors azonosítása | Sérülékenységek kihasználása a támadási lehetőségek feltérképezésére | Valós támadási forgatókönyvek szimulációja, a szervezet reakcióképességének vizsgálata |
| Módszertan | Automatizált eszközökkel végzett szkennelés | Manuális tesztelés etikus hackelési módszerekkel | Red Team szemlélet, előzetes fenyegetésmodell alapján összeállított szimuláció |
| Mélység | Felszíni, áttekintő | Mélyebb technikai feltárás | Technikai, folyamati és emberi szinten történő átfogó elemzés |
| Észlelés/reakció vizsgálata | Nem célja | Részben, ha bepített elvárás | Kiemelten fontos része a tesztnek (Blue Team észlelőképesség + válaszidő) |
| Ajánlott használat | Alapbiztonsági ellenőrzés, rendszeres felmérés | Részletes technikai audit, compliance, fejlesztési ciklusokban | Valós támadási kitettség vizsgálata, DORA vagy TIBER-EU megfelelés |
| Időtartam | 1-3 nap | 1-2 hét | 4-8 hónap (szcenáriói komplexitásától függően) |
| Költségszint | Alacsonyabb | Közepes | Magasabb – de teljesebb képet ad |
Not every organization has the same needs. We help determine which type of test is best suited to your IT security situation.
| Feature | Vulnerability assessment | Penetration test | Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) |
| Objective | Rapid identification of vulnerabilities | Exploiting vulnerabilities to map potential attack paths | Simulating realistic attack scenarios and assessing the organization’s response capability |
| Methodology | Scanning with automated tools | Manual testing using ethical hacking methods | Red Team approach, with a simulation designed based on a preliminary threat model |
| Depth | High-level overview | Deeper technical investigation | Comprehensive analysis at technical, process and human levels |
| Detection/response assessment | Not an objective | Partially, if included as a requirement | A key part of the test: Blue Team detection capability and response time |
| Recommended use | Baseline security check, regular assessment | Detailed technical audit, compliance and development cycles | Assessing real-world attack exposure and achieving DORA or TIBER-EU compliance |
| Duration | 1–3 days | 1-2 weeks | 4months, depending on the complexity of the scenario |
| Cost level | Lower | Medium | Higher — but provides a more complete picture |
Determining the type of cybersecurity assessment
Basic security questions
- We do not know where the system’s weak points are.
- The company has not had a security assessment for a long time.
- We want a quick overview of the current state of our IT environment.
- We do not have an internal IT security team.
In this case, a VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT is recommended.
Attack modelling questions
- We want to understand how a real attacker would gain access.
- We want to know what an external attacker would see from the internet.
- We want to assess our more critical business systems.
- We do not know the potential impact of a successful attack.
In this case, PENETRATION TESTING is recommended.
Response capability and compliance
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We are not sure whether the team would detect an attack in time.
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We are subject to DORA or TIBER-EU requirements.
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It is important to know how the Blue Team performs in a real-world situation.
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We want to continuously improve our cyber resilience.
In this case, TLPT (Threat-Led Penetration Testing) is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TLPT the same as a penetration test?
No. A penetration test identifies and exploits technical vulnerabilities. TLPT, by contrast, models realistic attack scenarios with business objectives and also assesses whether the organization detects and handles the attack. This means cyber resilience is also a key focus.
To what extent does this test disrupt normal operations?
During TLPT, every step is carried out following prior coordination, and the simulation is designed to cause minimal or no disruption to day-to-day operations. The test does not cause downtime and is conducted with full discretion.
Is TLPT mandatory under the DORA regulation?
Yes, for organizations in the financial sector. The DORA regulation requires Threat-Led Penetration Testing to be conducted not as a generic test, but as an independent, threat-led assessment focused on business-critical systems.
What will I receive at the end of the TLPT?
A detailed, structured report containing the attack scenarios, the objectives achieved, an assessment of detection and response capabilities, as well as recommendations for improvement at the technical, process and human levels of security.
Is TLPT “overkill” for my company? When is it worth getting started?
Once you have completed a few penetration tests and want to move to the next level, or if regulation such as DORA requires it, TLPT is not overkill but a necessity. It is also recommended if you want to understand how the organization would respond to a real attack.
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