Frequently Asked Questions About Red Team Testing

Red teaming is a proactive cybersecurity strategy where ethical hackers simulate real-world cyberattacks—targeting an organization’s networks, systems, and even physical premises—to uncover vulnerabilities and test the effectiveness of existing defenses. Unlike traditional assessments, red team testing mimics the tactics of actual adversaries, including social engineering and lateral movement, to evaluate how well an organization can detect, respond to, and recover from threats. This comprehensive approach helps organizations identify weaknesses before they can be exploited and strengthens their overall security posture through actionable recommendations.

Red teaming tests overall organizational security, including multiple attack vectors, while penetration testing focuses on specific systems or applications.

Attacks simulated include social engineering, software exploits, insider threats, privilege escalation, and physical security breaches.

The goal is to improve detection, response, and recovery from cyber-attacks by identifying security gaps in processes, technology, and people.

Any organization with a mature cybersecurity program can benefit from red team services.

Key stakeholders should be aware, but the element of surprise should be preserved to ensure realistic testing of defenses.

Engagements can last from a few weeks to several months, depending on size and scope.

A red team test should not impact business operations. Our red team aims to minimize disruptions, but coordination with leadership ensures boundaries are defined to maintain business continuity.