Red Teaming Fundamentals
Master adversarial simulation, attack techniques, MITRE ATT&CK framework, and threat emulation methodologies for comprehensive security validation
What is Red Teaming?
Red teaming is a form of adversarial simulation that emulates real-world attack scenarios to test an organization's detection and response capabilities. Unlike traditional penetration testing, red teaming is goal-oriented and focuses on achieving specific objectives while evading detection.
Core Principles:
- • Goal-Oriented: Focus on business objectives, not just finding vulnerabilities
- • Adversarial Simulation: Emulate real threat actor behavior and TTPs
- • Stealth Operations: Avoid detection while achieving objectives
- • Multi-Vector Approach: Combine technical, physical, and social engineering
- • Continuous Assessment: Test detection and response over extended periods
Red Team Engagement Calculator
Engagement Metrics
MITRE ATT&CK Framework
Initial Access
Spear phishing, drive-by compromise, supply chain attacks
Execution
Command/script execution, scheduled tasks, user execution
Persistence
Boot/logon autostart, registry modification, scheduled tasks
Privilege Escalation
Process injection, access token manipulation, exploitation
Defense Evasion
Obfuscation, process hollowing, timestomping
Credential Access
Credential dumping, brute force, keylogging
Discovery
System/network discovery, account discovery, file enumeration
Lateral Movement
Remote services, application deployment, internal spear phishing
Red Team Operation Framework
Red Team Engagement Orchestrator (Python)
Red Team Coordination Dashboard (TypeScript)
Real-World Red Team Examples
Financial Services Red Team
- • Objective: Gain access to customer financial data
- • Duration: 6 weeks engagement
- • Success: Reached crown jewels via supply chain attack
- • Detection: Undetected for 4 weeks
Healthcare Red Team
- • Objective: Access patient records and medical devices
- • Duration: 4 weeks engagement
- • Success: Compromised 3 critical medical systems
- • Impact: Led to $2M security investment
Government Agency Red Team
- • Objective: Test classified network segmentation
- • Duration: 8 weeks engagement
- • Success: Lateral movement across 3 classification levels
- • Discovery: Multiple zero-day vulnerabilities
Technology Company Red Team
- • Objective: Steal intellectual property and source code
- • Duration: 12 weeks engagement
- • Success: Exfiltrated 100GB of sensitive data
- • Method: Living off the land techniques
Red Teaming Best Practices
✅ Do
- •Establish clear rules of engagement with legal, technical, and ethical boundaries defined upfront
- •Use a white cell for coordination to manage safety, legal compliance, and communication
- •Focus on business objectives rather than just finding vulnerabilities
- •Document everything thoroughly for post-engagement analysis and lessons learned
- •Report critical vulnerabilities immediately through established channels
❌ Don't
- •Operate without proper authorization - ensure all activities are pre-approved and documented
- •Cause business disruption - avoid actions that could impact operations or availability
- •Access sensitive data unnecessarily - prove access capability without actually viewing/copying
- •Leave persistent backdoors - clean up all access methods and artifacts
- •Ignore detection events - adjust tactics if blue team response is triggered