PTES

What is PTES?

PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) is an open standard defining the methodology for conducting penetration tests. PTES describes seven test phases, ensuring a systematic and repeatable approach regardless of the scope and type of the tested environment.

The seven PTES phases: 1) Pre-engagement Interactions - agreeing on scope, objectives, rules of engagement and legal aspects. 2) Intelligence Gathering - collecting information about the target (OSINT, passive scanning). 3) Threat Modeling - identifying assets, threats and attack vectors. 4) Vulnerability Analysis - identifying technical and logical vulnerabilities. 5) Exploitation - leveraging identified vulnerabilities to gain access. 6) Post-Exploitation - assessing the value of the compromised system, lateral movement, privilege escalation. 7) Reporting - documenting results, risk classification, remediation recommendations.

PTES also includes Technical Guidelines with specific techniques and tools for each phase, making it not only a methodology but also a practical handbook for penetration testers.

Why does it matter?

PTES ensures that a penetration test is conducted systematically and comprehensively rather than as chaotic “bug hunting”. The standard is widely used in the industry and serves as a reference point for evaluating penetration test quality. Knowledge of PTES enables the test purchaser to understand what to expect from the provider and how to assess report completeness.

Related topics

• Penetration Testing
• OSSTMM
• OWASP Top 10