# PTES Overview

> Walk through all seven phases of the Penetration Testing Execution Standard, from pre-engagement scoping to final reporting, and learn how pros structure assessments.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/ptes-overview
Last updated: 2026-08-30

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 4 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 300 |

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is the industry's definitive framework for conducting a penetration test. This module walks through all seven phases in order: Pre-engagement Interactions, Intelligence Gathering, Threat Modeling, Vulnerability Analysis, Exploitation, Post-Exploitation, and Reporting. You will learn what happens before the first packet is sent, how to scope an assessment and define rules of engagement, how to model threats against a target, and how each phase feeds into the next. By the end, you will understand how professional pentesters structure their work from contract to final deliverable, and why following a standardized methodology produces consistent, defensible, and repeatable results.

## Lessons

1. What is PTES & Why Methodology Matters (30 min)
2. The 7 Phases of PTES Explained (30 min)
3. PTES vs OSSTMM vs OWASP Testing Guide (30 min)
4. Applying PTES to a Real Engagement Structure (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Pentest Methodology & Reporting](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/pentest-methodology-reporting)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)