Threat-Led Penetration Testing

Simulate Real-World Cyber Attacks to Strengthen Your Defenses

CREST and CHECK-certified experts delivering risk-based cyber resilience.

Reliable and Accredited Threat-Led Penetration Testing

What is Threat-Led Penetration Testing?

Threat-Led Penetration Tests (TLPT) are designed to mimic real threats targeting an organization’s critical assets. The tests are split into a threat intelligence phase and an attack simulation phase. The results of the threat intelligence are used to create realistic attack scenarios designed to mimic real threats facing the organization. The red team will replicate the TTPs of the threat actors identified in the threat intelligence report. TLPT can help you achieve regulatory compliance as well as improve your overall cyber security posture and resilience.

The scenarios define credible paths an attacker might take — such as gaining access through a third-party vendor, bypassing security controls, and targeting critical systems such as payment platforms or customer data. The goal is to test how well the organization can detect, respond to, and recover from such an incident without causing actual harm.

Dionach has been accredited to deliver the following regulated assessment STAR-FS, GBEST, GCASE, and TIBER-EU.

What we do

Dionach provides expert Threat-Led Penetration Testing aligned with frameworks like STAR-FS, TIBER-EU, and iCAST. Using real-world threat intelligence, we simulate sophisticated attacks to assess how well your organization can detect, respond to, and recover from advanced threats.

Our red team engagements go beyond traditional testing, focusing on realistic objectives such as data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and bypassing security controls. These assessments are tailored to your sector’s specific threat landscape and regulatory requirements.

You’ll receive clear, actionable reporting—from technical details to executive summaries—designed to support both internal improvements and external compliance. Post-engagement, we work closely with your team to strengthen defenses and improve detection and response through collaborative purple teaming.

With CREST and CHECK-certified consultants and deep experience in regulated industries, Dionach can help you stay one step ahead of cyber threats.

Need help with cyber security solutions? We are experts!

Realistic Adversary Simulation That Reflect Your Threat Landscape

Dionach’s TLPT services go far beyond traditional testing by emulating the behavior of real-world threat actors. We use the latest threat intelligence to design realistic attack scenarios that mirror the tactics used by adversaries targeting your industry. These goal-driven exercises are designed to test your defenses at every level—technology, people, and process.

Whether the objective is data exfiltration, lateral movement, or system compromise, we deliver a clear picture of how well your defenses hold up under pressure.

Enhance Detection and Response with Purple Team Collaboration

Following the TLPT engagement, our experts work side-by-side with your internal teams to enhance your detection, response, and recovery capabilities. These collaborative “purple team” engagements replay parts of the attacks to validate alerts, fine-tune systems, and boost your overall resilience.

Your team learns in real time, gaining valuable skills and improving your defenses on the spot.

Align With STAR-FS, TIBER-EU, and DORA Regulatory Requirements

Dionach’s Threat-Led Testing aligns with leading regulatory and industry frameworks, including STAR-FS (UK), GBEST and GCASE (UK), DORA (EU) and TIBER-EU (Europe). These frameworks are designed for sectors such as financial services, government, energy, and critical infrastructure where resilience is critical.

Our testing helps you meet regulatory expectations while improving your ability to detect and respond to sophisticated attacks. We also support you throughout the compliance process—from scoping and execution to reporting and regulator submission.

Threat-Led Penetration Testing Assessment Phases

Planning & Scoping

We begin by working closely with your team to define the objectives, scope, and success criteria for the engagement. This includes identifying key assets, agreeing on rules of engagement, and aligning the test with your regulatory or business requirements. The result is a clear and focused plan tailored to your organization.

Test Plan Creation

Our experts will create a detailed test plan that governs the red team’s activities. The plan will define the rules of engagement including communication channels, risk management controls, and “leg-ups” process. We will use our expertise and the results of the threat intelligence report to create bespoke scenario-based attack plans.

Attack plans are carefully designed simulations of real-world cyberattacks tailored to the organisation’s specific threat landscape. It is developed using threat intelligence, focusing on the most likely and impactful tactics that simulated threat actors might use.

Attack Simulation

Our expert red team emulates advanced adversary behaviours in a controlled, goal-oriented exercise designed to test your detection and response capabilities. The simulation is conducted with minimal operational disruption, adhering to strict safety protocols while evaluating your organisation’s ability to withstand and respond to real-world threats.

Comprehensive Presentation

Following the simulation, we deliver a detailed report that includes a chronological attack narrative, technical findings, and strategic recommendations. Reports are structured to meet the needs of both technical stakeholders and executive leadership, and can be tailored to support regulatory submission where required. Our team will then present the findings of the assessment to relevant stakeholders within your organisation.

Post-Engagement Remediation and Support

Beyond the assessment, Dionach provides expert guidance to help remediate identified weaknesses and improve your resilience. These include collaborative workshops with your blue team to replay the attacks and review detection and response actions taken during the engagement, purple team exercises focusing on alternative attack scenarios and TTPs, or advisory support to enhance monitoring, detection, and incident response processes. Our goal is to ensure lasting improvement in your organisation’s cyber resilience.

Who Needs Threat-Led Penetration Testing?

Threat-Led Penetration Testing is ideal for organizations operating in high-risk or highly regulated sectors. This includes financial institutions, government departments, critical national infrastructure providers, healthcare organizations, and large enterprises handling sensitive data.

If your organization must comply with STAR-FS, TIBER-EU, DORA, iCAST, GBEST or other regulatory frameworks—or if you want to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats—threat-led testing offers the assurance you need. It’s especially valuable for businesses looking to validate their security in the face of advanced and targeted attacks.

How We Work

We deliver the whole spectrum of cybersecurity services, from long-term, enterprise wide strategy and implementation projects to single penetration tests.

Our team works with you to identify and assess your organization’s vulnerabilities, deﬁne enterprise-wide goals, and advise how best to achieve them.

Our recommendations are clear, concise, pragmatic and tailored to your organization.

Independent, unbiased, personalized – this is how we define our services. We guide you to spend wisely and invest in change efficiently.

Our recommendations are clear, concise, pragmatic and tailored to your organization.

Independent, unbiased, personalized – this is how we define our services. We guide you to spend wisely and invest in change efficiently.

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