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PTES

Self-Assess
International
v2023
14 domains
29 controls

Penetration Testing Execution Standard

Verified

PTES is a compliance framework from International with 14 domains and 29 controls that map to 139 other frameworks. The largest domains are PTES: Post Exploitation (4 controls), PTES: Exploitation (3 controls), PTES: Intelligence Gathering (3 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.

Maintained by Gerard BlokdykVerified against the published standard Control text last updated

Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.

Framework Domains (14)

Exploitation

1 controls
Controls in the Exploitation domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-5Exploitation

Intelligence Gathering

1 controls
Controls in the Intelligence Gathering domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-2Intelligence Gathering (OSINT)

PTES: Exploitation

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Exploitation domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-EX-1Exploitation Planning
PTES-EX-2Countermeasure Evasion and Anti Forensics
PTES-EX-3Customized Exploitation

PTES: Intelligence Gathering

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Intelligence Gathering domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-INT-1Passive Intelligence Gathering
PTES-INT-2Active Information Gathering
PTES-INT-3Human Intelligence and Footprinting

PTES: Post Exploitation

4 controls
Controls in the PTES: Post Exploitation domain of PTES — 4 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-POST-1Post Exploitation Pivoting
PTES-POST-2Persistence Mechanisms
PTES-POST-3Data Exfiltration and Impact Demonstration
PTES-POST-4Cleanup

PTES: Pre-Engagement Interactions

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Pre-Engagement Interactions domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-PRE-1Engagement Scope Definition
PTES-PRE-2Rules of Engagement
PTES-PRE-3Goals and Success Criteria

PTES: Reporting

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Reporting domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-REP-1Executive Summary
PTES-REP-2Technical Findings
PTES-REP-3Remediation Roadmap and Retesting

PTES: Threat Modeling

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Threat Modeling domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-TM-1Business Asset Analysis
PTES-TM-2Threat Agents and Capabilities
PTES-TM-3Threat Capability Mapping

PTES: Vulnerability Analysis

3 controls
Controls in the PTES: Vulnerability Analysis domain of PTES — 3 controls
CodeTitle
PTES-VA-1Vulnerability Analysis Approach
PTES-VA-2Active and Passive Testing
PTES-VA-3Research and Identification

Post Exploitation

1 controls
Controls in the Post Exploitation domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-6Post Exploitation

Pre-Engagement

1 controls
Controls in the Pre-Engagement domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-1Pre-Engagement Interactions and Scoping

Reporting and Cleanup

1 controls
Controls in the Reporting and Cleanup domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-7Reporting and Cleanup

Threat Modeling

1 controls
Controls in the Threat Modeling domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-3Threat Modeling

Vulnerability Analysis

1 controls
Controls in the Vulnerability Analysis domain of PTES — 1 controls
CodeTitle
PTESPHASE-4Vulnerability Analysis

Your Compliance Coverage

If you comply with PTES, you already cover:

PSD2 SCA

14%

4 controls mapped

Compare →

FFIEC IT Examination Handbook

14%

4 controls mapped

Compare →

NIST SP 800-124 Revision 2 - Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices

14%

4 controls mapped

Compare →

+ 136 more: ISO 27018 (14%), ISO 27043 (14%)

See all 139 mapped frameworks ↓

Maps to 139 other frameworks

29 total controls
PSD2 SCA
4 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
14%
FFIEC IT Examination Handbook
4 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
14%
NIST SP 800-124 Revision 2 - Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices
4 source controls mapped|10 target controls covered
14%
ISO 27018
4 source controls mapped|10 target controls covered
14%
ISO 27043
4 source controls mapped|18 target controls covered
14%
CISA Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPG) 2.0
4 source controls mapped|12 target controls covered
14%
PCI SSF
4 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
14%
PCI P2PE
4 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
14%
ISO 27019
4 source controls mapped|9 target controls covered
14%
AWWA Cybersecurity Guidance for the Water Sector (American Water Works Association)
4 source controls mapped|11 target controls covered
14%
South Korea ISMS-P
4 source controls mapped|9 target controls covered
14%
NIST SP 1800-32
4 source controls mapped|9 target controls covered
14%
Singapore Government Instruction Manual on ICT&SS Management (IM8)
4 source controls mapped|7 target controls covered
14%
ISO/IEC 27010:2015
4 source controls mapped|7 target controls covered
14%
IEC 62443
4 source controls mapped|9 target controls covered
14%
API 1164
4 source controls mapped|9 target controls covered
14%
PCI PIN Security
4 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
14%
NIST SP 800-190
4 source controls mapped|10 target controls covered
14%
ISO/SAE 21434
4 source controls mapped|17 target controls covered
14%
ISO 27017
4 source controls mapped|10 target controls covered
14%
OWASP SAMM
4 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
14%
FTC GLBA Safeguards Rule (16 CFR Part 314)
4 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
14%
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
4 source controls mapped|20 target controls covered
14%
BSI IT-Grundschutz
4 source controls mapped|11 target controls covered
14%
ASD Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Security Incidents
3 source controls mapped|12 target controls covered
10%
ISO/IEC 27011:2024
3 source controls mapped|8 target controls covered
10%
FFIEC Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT)
3 source controls mapped|5 target controls covered
10%
ISO 28001:2007 Supply Chain Security Management
3 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
10%
NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements
3 source controls mapped|11 target controls covered
10%
NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
3 source controls mapped|7 target controls covered
10%
DAMA-DMBOK2 - Data Management Body of Knowledge (2nd Edition)
3 source controls mapped|5 target controls covered
10%
Annex 11 to EU GMP - Computerised Systems
3 source controls mapped|5 target controls covered
10%
IEC 62351 - Power Systems Communication Security
3 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
10%
ISO 19011
3 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
10%
ISO 15189:2022 - Medical Laboratories Requirements for Quality and Competence
3 source controls mapped|8 target controls covered
10%
ISO 31000:2018
3 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
10%
ISO 22739:2024 - Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies Vocabulary
3 source controls mapped|6 target controls covered
10%
UK Open Banking Standard
3 source controls mapped|5 target controls covered
10%
Switzerland New Federal Act on Data Protection (nFADP/nDSG, 2023)
3 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
10%
NATO STANAG 4774 (Confidentiality Metadata Labels) and STANAG 4778 (Metadata Binding)
3 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
10%
ISO/IEC 29147:2018
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) - Cybersecurity Requirements
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) - Connected Product Safety
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
AICPA Privacy Management Framework (PMF)
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
Kuwait National Cybersecurity Framework
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 30111:2019
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
Vietnam PDPD
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
Turkey KVKK
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
SANS Incident Handler's Handbook and PICERL Methodology
2 source controls mapped|6 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 27031:2011
2 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
7%
US Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and USCG Cybersecurity Requirements
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ASIS SPC.1-2009 - Organizational Resilience Standard
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO 22320:2018
2 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
7%
UK Defence Standard 05-138 - Cyber Security for Defence Suppliers
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO 13485
2 source controls mapped|8 target controls covered
7%
ISO 27799
2 source controls mapped|7 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 25012:2008 - Data Quality Model
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
FBI CJIS Security Policy
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
Bahrain PDPL
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 23837 - Security Requirements for Quantum Key Distribution
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
AS9100D:2016 - Quality Management Systems for Aviation, Space, and Defence
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
ISO 27005
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
ISO 20000-1
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 27400:2022
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
ISO/IEC 29115:2023 - Entity Authentication Assurance Framework
2 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
7%
Qatar DPL
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
FIDO2 / WebAuthn
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (UAE PDPL)
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
MARS-E - Minimum Acceptable Risk Standards for Exchanges
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
APPI
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
USMCA Chapter 19 - Digital Trade (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
TEFCA - Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement
2 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
7%
SWIFT CSCF
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS)
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) Release 2024
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
ISO 19650 - Organisation and Digitisation of Information about Buildings and Civil Engineering Works (BIM)
2 source controls mapped|5 target controls covered
7%
Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
2 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
7%
Florida Digital Bill of Rights (FDBR)
2 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
7%
US Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) - Higher Education Safeguards Rule
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 29134:2023
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO 22316
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO 22317
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
NFPA 1600 - Standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO 22318
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
NIST SP 800-171
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Vermont Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Data Act (AICDA)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Russia Federal Law on Personal Data (152-FZ)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
US Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) - CBP Trade Data Requirements
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programmes - Global Standards
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ITIL 4
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Canada ITSG-33 - IT Security Risk Management
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Armenia Law on Protection of Personal Data (2015)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
AML/CTF Act 2006 (Australia)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Standards Manual
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ICAO Annex 17 - Aviation Security (AVSEC)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
W3C Verifiable Credentials (VC) Data Model 2.0
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Vietnam Law on Cybersecurity (No. 24/2018/QH14)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO 14064 - Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Verification (Parts 1-3)
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
21 CFR Part 211 - Current Good Manufacturing Practice
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
IEC 60601-1 - Medical Electrical Equipment Safety
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
FDA Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 38500:2024 - Governance of IT
1 source controls mapped|4 target controls covered
3%
Azerbaijan Law on Personal Data (2010)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO 37000:2021 - Governance of Organizations
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 27007:2020
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) - Net-Zero Standard
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General Requirements for Testing and Calibration
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
IEC 62304:2015 Medical Device Software Lifecycle Processes
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Automotive SPICE (ASPICE) v4.0 - Process Assessment Model
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
COBIT 2019
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Austria Data Protection Act (Datenschutzgesetz, DSG, amended 2018)
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 23894:2023
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 9
1 source controls mapped|3 target controls covered
3%
ISO 41001:2018 - Facility Management Systems
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO 8000 - Data Quality
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 27003:2017
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Barbados Data Protection Act 2019
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
FedRAMP High
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5.1 HIGH
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
FedRAMP Moderate
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 MODERATE
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 LOW
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 27557:2022 - Organisational Privacy Risk Management
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO 26262:2018 - Functional Safety for Road Vehicles
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ISO 56002
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO 20400:2017 - Sustainable Procurement
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
Nebraska Data Privacy Act
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
Albania Law on Protection of Personal Data (Law No. 9887, 2008, amended 2014)
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 27004:2016
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
ISO/IEC 29100:2024
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
IAIS Insurance Core Principles (ICPs)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Philippines Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
ICH Q10 - Pharmaceutical Quality System
1 source controls mapped|2 target controls covered
3%
French Sapin II Law (Law No. 2016-1691)
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
PCI DSS 4.0
1 source controls mapped|1 target controls covered
3%
Compare PTES with PSD2 SCA

What is PTES and who does it apply to?

PTES is a compliance framework from International with 14 domains and 29 controls. Penetration Testing Execution Standard It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

What does PTES actually require?

PTES has 29 controls organised across 14 domains. The largest domains are PTES: Post Exploitation (4 controls), PTES: Exploitation (3 controls), PTES: Intelligence Gathering (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.

If I already comply with another framework, how much of PTES do I already cover?

PTES maps to 139 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are PSD2 SCA (14% coverage), FFIEC IT Examination Handbook (14% coverage), NIST SP 800-124 Revision 2 - Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices (14% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.

How do I implement PTES?

Start your PTES compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about PTES requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 29 controls and track your progress.

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