Cyber attacks continue to evolve in both sophistication and frequency, forcing organizations to rethink how they approach security testing. Traditional methods like vulnerability scanning or one-off penetration tests still play an important role, but they often fall short in capturing how a real-world attacker would behave, especially one with time, resources, and specific intent. As a result, many organizations are beginning to shift away from generic, checklist-style assessments in favor of more focused, scenario-driven approaches that reflect the current threat landscape.

One such approach gaining significant traction, particularly in regulated sectors like finance and critical infrastructure, is known as Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT). But what exactly is TLPT, where did it originate, and how does it differ from traditional penetration testing or red teaming?