Understanding Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT)

21 June 2024
Penetration Testing

Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) is a specialized form of penetration testing that focuses on simulating real-world cyber threats to assess and enhance the security posture of an organization. Unlike traditional penetration tests, which often use generic “out-of-the-box” attack methods, TLPT employs tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by actual cyber adversaries to provide a more realistic evaluation of an organization’s defences. The main difference is that TLPTs scope is the entire organisation and takes into consideration procedures and people, where as normal penetration testing in focussed on the technical aspects of a particular system or part of the environment.

The larger scope means that TLPT is more complex, especially if there are many third parties involved and can take months to complete. The new DORA Act (EU) specifies qualifying organisations must complete a TLPT every 3 years.

Key Aspects of Threat-Led Penetration Testing:

  1. Adversary Simulation: TLPT mimics the actions of real-world attackers, including advanced persistent threats (APTs), cybercriminals, and hacktivists. This approach helps organizations understand how well their defences can withstand genuine attacks.
  2. Intelligence-Driven: TLPT is based on the latest threat intelligence, ensuring that the testing scenarios reflect current and emerging threats. This intelligence includes information about specific threat actors, their motivations, and their known TTPs.
  3. Customized Scenarios: Each TLPT engagement is tailored to the specific organization, considering its unique risk profile, industry, and potential threat vectors. This customization ensures that the testing is relevant and provides actionable insights.
  4. Comprehensive Coverage: TLPT covers a wide range of attack vectors, including network breaches, social engineering, phishing, malware deployment, and more. It aims to test the entire security ecosystem, from technical controls to human factors.

Steps Involved in TLPT:

  1. Scoping and Planning:
    1. Define the objectives, scope, and rules of engagement.
    2. Identify critical assets, systems, and processes to be tested.
    3. Gather relevant threat intelligence to inform the testing scenarios.
  2. Reconnaissance and Information Gathering:
    1. Conduct passive and active reconnaissance to collect information about the target environment.
    2. Identify potential vulnerabilities and entry points.
  3. Exploitation and Attack Simulation:
    1. Simulate real-world attack scenarios using the gathered intelligence and identified vulnerabilities.
    2. Attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access, escalate privileges, and move laterally within the network.
  4. Reporting and Analysis:
    1. Document findings, including successfully exploited vulnerabilities, attack paths, and potential impact.
    2. Provide detailed recommendations for remediation and improvement.
  5. Remediation and Re-Testing:
    1. Work with the organization to address the identified vulnerabilities.
    2. Conduct follow-up tests to ensure that the remediation efforts have been effective.

Benefits of TLPT:

  1. Realistic Assessment: By simulating actual threats, TLPT provides a more accurate assessment of an organization’s security posture than traditional penetration testing.
  2. Enhanced Preparedness: Organizations can better prepare for real-world attacks by understanding their vulnerabilities and improving their defences.
  3. Regulatory Compliance: TLPT can help organizations meet regulatory requirements and industry standards, such as those outlined in the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).

Conclusion:

Threat-Led Penetration Testing is a vital component of a robust cybersecurity strategy. By leveraging real-world attack scenarios and current threat intelligence, TLPT helps organizations identify and address critical vulnerabilities, enhancing their overall resilience against cyber threats.

Archway Securities specialise in Penetration Testing. We are currently offering a complementary penetration test for one website or application to showcase of skills. Please visit our website to apply.

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