How to Build a Red Team

Organisations are facing a constant barrage of sophisticated attacks, with over 560,000 new cyber threats discovered daily. Traditional defensive security measures are no longer enough. Proactive and aggressive strategies are needed to identify and address vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them. This is where red teaming comes in.

What is a red team in cyber security?

A red team, in the context of cyber security, is a group of authorised ethical hackers who simulate real-world cyberattacks against an organisation’s defences. These skilled individuals employ a variety of techniques and tools, mimicking the behaviour and tactics of real attackers, to uncover weaknesses in an organisation’s security posture.

Unlike a blue team, which focuses on defending the network, a red team takes an adversarial approach, aiming to gain access to systems, steal data, or disrupt operations. Red teaming exercises are a crucial component of a robust cyber security strategy, as they provide invaluable insights into an organisation’s true level of preparedness.

You can find out more about the differences between red teams and blue teams in our article: Red Teams vs Blue Teams.

Why build a red team?

Building a red team offers several compelling advantages for organisations looking to strengthen their cyber security posture. Red teaming exercises are designed to uncover vulnerabilities that traditional security assessments might miss. By simulating real-world attacks, red teams can identify weaknesses in security controls, network configuration, and even human behaviour. This proactive approach allows organisations to address these vulnerabilities before they are exploited by malicious actors.

Red teaming exercises also provide a valuable opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of existing security controls. The red team will attempt to bypass firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security measures, highlighting any weaknesses in their configuration or deployment. This allows organisations to refine their security controls and ensure they are adequately protecting critical assets. These exercises can significantly enhance an organisation’s incident response capabilities. By simulating real-world attacks, red teams help security teams practise their detection, containment, eradication, and recovery procedures. This improves the team’s ability to respond effectively and minimise damage in the event of a real cyberattack.

Red teaming exercises can also have a positive impact on an organisation’s overall security awareness. By exposing employees to the tactics and techniques used by attackers, red teams can help to educate staff on best practices for protecting sensitive information and identifying suspicious activity.

Building your red team

The decision to build an internal red team or outsource to a specialist company depends on several factors, including budget, available resources, and in-house expertise.

Internal red team:

Skills and expertise: Building a successful internal red team requires recruiting individuals with a diverse skill set. Individuals should have expertise in penetration testing, exploit development, adversary emulation, and incident response. Certifications such as OSCP, OSCE, and GSEC can be helpful indicators of these skills.
Team size and structure: The size and structure of your internal red team will depend on the size and complexity of your organisation. Smaller organisations might benefit from a single red team member who can work collaboratively with the blue team, while larger organisations might require a dedicated red team unit with specialised roles.

Outsourcing to a red team consultancy:

Cost-effectiveness: Outsourcing red teaming services can be a cost-effective solution for smaller organisations or those with limited internal security resources. Red team consultancies typically have a team of experienced professionals with diverse skill sets, eliminating the need for internal recruitment and training.
Access to expertise: Red team consultancies offer access to a wealth of expertise and experience that may not be readily available within an organisation. They can also provide a fresh perspective on your security posture, identifying vulnerabilities your internal teams might miss.

Tools and Technologies:

Regardless of whether you build an internal red team or outsource to a consultancy, equipping your red team with the right tools is essential! Red team exercises often involve penetration testing tools, vulnerability scanners, exploit frameworks, and social engineering tools.

What is the red team process?

A successful red team engagement follows a well-defined process, typically involving the following stages:

1. Planning and scoping:

This initial stage involves defining the engagement goals, target systems, and boundaries of the red team exercise. This ensures the red team activities are aligned with the organisation’s overall security objectives while minimising disruption to normal operations.

During the planning phase, the red team will work collaboratively with the blue team and other stakeholders to gather information about the target environment, including network diagrams, security policies, and asset inventories.

2. Reconnaissance and information gathering:

The red team will then begin by gathering information about the target environment using various techniques, mimicking real-world attackers. This might involve:

Open-source intelligence (OSINT): The red team will scour publicly available information about the organisation, such as social media profiles, website content, and job postings. This information can reveal valuable insights into the organisation’s network infrastructure, security posture, and employee habits.
Social engineering: Red teamers may attempt to trick employees into revealing sensitive information through phishing emails, phone calls, or pretexting. This tactic exploits human vulnerabilities and exposes weaknesses in security awareness training.
Network scanning and enumeration: The red team will use network scanning tools to identify active devices, open ports, and running services on the target network. This information can be used to identify potential entry points and vulnerabilities in network configuration.

3. Gaining initial access:

Once the red team has gathered sufficient information, they will attempt to gain initial access to the target network or systems. This could involve exploiting known vulnerabilities in software applications, compromising user credentials through social engineering, or identifying physical security weaknesses.

4. Escalating privileges and maintaining persistence:

After gaining initial access, the red team will attempt to escalate their privileges within the network. This might involve exploiting local vulnerabilities or compromising user accounts with higher access levels. Once they have escalated privileges, the red team will also try to establish persistence within the network, allowing them to maintain access even if they are detected; this could involve installing malware or creating backdoors.

5. Lateral movement and covering tracks:

With a foothold in the network, the red team will attempt to move laterally across the network, accessing additional systems and resources. They will use various techniques to evade detection, such as disabling security software, deleting logs, and masking their activity.

6. Reaching objectives:

The ultimate goal of the red team engagement will depend on the objectives defined during the planning stage. These objectives might include stealing sensitive data, disrupting critical systems, or gaining access to a specific high-value asset.

7. Reporting and remediation:

Following the red team exercise, a comprehensive report detailing the findings will be generated. This report should document the vulnerabilities identified, the techniques employed by the red team, and the impact of the simulated attack. Based on this report, the organisation can then develop a remediation plan to address the identified vulnerabilities and strengthen its overall security posture.

Building a red team, or partnering with a red team consultancy, is a proactive approach to cyber security that can significantly enhance your organisation’s defences. Red team exercises provide invaluable insights into your security posture, helping you identify and address vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. By simulating real-world attacks, red teaming can improve your incident response preparedness, educate your employees, and ultimately lead to a more secure environment.

If you’re considering building a red team, look no further than Intaso. We have a proven track record of connecting organisations with highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, including experienced red teamers. We can help you find the right talent to build a strong internal red team that aligns perfectly with your organisation’s specific needs.