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Getting Started Defining the Target Audience

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is designed to bridge the gap between organizations that need security evaluations and the professionals who provide them. Understanding who benefits from PTES will help you leverage the framework to establish a common language and set clear expectations for your penetration tests.

flowchart LR
    A["Businesses (Consumers)"] -->|Demand Baseline| B{"PTES Framework"}
    C["Service Providers (Testers)"] -->|Follow Guidelines| B
    B -->|Standardized Deliverables| A

Primary Audiences

PTES was created to solve a specific industry problem: businesses were receiving inconsistent, low-quality penetration tests, and practitioners lacked clear guidance on what constituted a "good" test. To fix this, the standard targets two main communities:

Businesses & Organizations

If you are procuring a penetration test, PTES empowers you to demand a specific baseline of quality. It helps you understand exactly what type of testing you need and what value it will provide to your business.

Service Providers & Practitioners

If you are performing the test, PTES provides a comprehensive baseline for your activities. It guides you through the entire lifecycle of an engagement, from initial scoping all the way through to final reporting.

Tailoring PTES to Your Team

While it is impossible to cover every single penetration testing scenario, PTES is designed to be flexible. It does not force a one-size-fits-all approach.

The framework establishes a minimum baseline required for a basic penetration test, but it also defines several advanced "levels" for organizations with higher security needs or specific industry regulations.

To tailor the framework to your specific engagement, follow these steps:

  1. 1

    Identify your industry baseline

    Determine the minimum regulatory and security requirements for your specific sector (e.g., financial institutions will have different baselines than retail).

  2. 2

    Select the appropriate testing level

    Decide if you need a standard baseline test or a more comprehensive evaluation that includes advanced threat modeling and deeper exploitation.

  3. 3

    Align on deliverables

    Ensure both parties agree on the final output. PTES standardizes both executive and technical reporting so that the results are actionable for everyone involved.

Standardized Reporting

A test is only as good as its report. PTES ensures that deliverables are tailored to the specific people reading them:

Report TypeIntended ReaderFocus Area
ExecutiveManagement, C-SuiteBusiness risk, high-level impact, and strategic recommendations.
TechnicalIT Staff, Security EngineersDetailed vulnerability data, reproduction steps, and tactical fixes.

Never accept a penetration test that only provides a technical output. A proper PTES-aligned engagement will always include an executive summary to translate technical flaws into business risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who created the PTES standard?

The standard was started in early 2009 by a group of information security practitioners from all areas of the industry, including financial institutions, service providers, and security vendors. Founding members include industry veterans from companies like Lares Consulting, TrustedSec, IOActive, and InGuardians.

Is this a closed group, or can I contribute?

It is an open effort! The project started with about 6 people and quickly grew. The creators actively welcome down-to-earth opinions and insights from the community to help improve the standard.

Why was this standard necessary?

Before PTES, the lack of standardization hurt the industry. Businesses often paid for low-quality work (like automated vulnerability scans disguised as penetration tests), while skilled practitioners lacked a formal way to demonstrate the comprehensive nature of their services. PTES creates a formal baseline to protect both parties.