Red team assessment

Strengthen your cyber defenses with a comprehensive red team assessment.

Why should you do a red team assessment?

A red team assessment is essential for organisations committed to strengthening their defence systems against advanced cyber threats. This assessment rigorously tests your people, processes and technologies, revealing vulnerabilities that routine penetration testing may miss.

The simulation of sophisticated attack vectors delivers essential insights into your organisation’s ability to detect, mitigate, and recover from real-world breaches. Investing in a red team assessment is vital to maintaining a resilient and adaptive security posture in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.

Scoping and planning

Define objectives

We begin by collaborating with your team to establish the objectives of the red team assessment. Whether your focus is testing specific attack vectors, evaluating incident response capabilities, or assessing overall organisational resilience, we tailor our approach to meet your unique security goals.

Scoping and engagement parameters

We define the full scope of the red team assessment, covering all potential attack vectors—from phishing and social engineering to network infiltration and data exfiltration. With client permission and a “get out of jail free” card in place, our red team is authorised to simulate a broad range of adversarial tactics. This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of your organisation’s defences is thoroughly tested.

Threat modelling

Based on the identified scope, we develop a threat model that outlines potential adversaries, attack vectors, and scenarios most relevant to your organisation. This modelling helps us simulate realistic attack scenarios aligned with the threats your business is most likely to face.

Rules of engagement

Establishing clear rules of engagement is essential to ensure that the red team assessment is conducted safely and effectively. We define the scope, constraints, and guidelines for the assessment, including how far the red team can go in their attack simulations and which systems are in-scope or out-of-scope.

Logistics and preparation

We plan the logistics of the assessment, including scheduling, resource allocation, and ensuring all necessary tools and environments are in place. This phase also involves briefing key stakeholders and ensuring that communication channels are established for incident reporting during the assessment.

Stakeholder communication

We maintain ongoing communication with your key stakeholders throughout the planning process to ensure alignment and transparency. Regular updates and briefings help keep everyone informed and prepared for the assessment, minimising potential disruptions to normal operations.

SmartView takes care of your reporting

Cognisys’ SmartView Portal provides a centralised platform for clients to manage their projects and vulnerabilities efficiently. Through the portal, clients can track the status of each identified issue, assign tasks to team members, and monitor the progress of remediation efforts.

A detailed report is prepared once the red team assessment is complete, prioritising findings and providing strategic, actionable recommendations to strengthen your security posture through our SmartView portal.

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Why choose Cognisys’ red team assessment?

Our red team assessment offers expertise in advanced threat simulation and security strategy. Our certified professionals emulate sophisticated adversaries to assess and fortify your defences rigorously. We provide a customised assessment tailored to your organisation’s needs to evaluate potential vulnerabilities and map them with the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

Our insights enhance your incident response capabilities and refine your overall security posture, ensuring your organisation can effectively counter advanced cyber threats.

FAQs

How is a red team assessment different from a penetration test?

While both red team assessments and penetration tests aim to identify vulnerabilities, a red team assessment takes a broader approach. It involves simulating a range of attack vectors and tactics used by real-world adversaries to evaluate your entire security posture, including detection and response capabilities. In contrast, a penetration test typically focuses on finding specific vulnerabilities in a defined scope.

How long does a red team assessment take?

The duration of a red team assessment varies based on the complexity of your environment and the scope of the assessment. Generally, it can range from a few weeks to several months. The process includes planning, executing simulations, and analysing results to provide actionable insights.

What are the benefits of conducting a red team assessment?

A red team assessment provides a realistic evaluation of your security defences by simulating advanced attack scenarios. Benefits include identifying critical vulnerabilities, testing your organisation’s incident response capabilities, and understanding how well your defences stand up against sophisticated threats. This helps in strengthening your overall security posture and preparedness.

How do you ensure the assessment does not disrupt business operations?

We work closely with your team to establish clear rules of engagement and scope parameters to minimise disruptions. Our assessments are planned and executed with careful consideration of your operational environment to ensure that any testing activities are controlled, preventing any impact on normal business operations.

What should we prepare before a red team assessment?

Before the assessment, we recommend providing detailed information about your network architecture, critical assets, and any specific security concerns. It is also essential to define the scope and rules of engagement to ensure that the assessment aligns with your objectives and operational constraints.

How often should we conduct red team assessments?

Red team assessments should be conducted regularly, ideally annually or after significant changes to your environment, such as new technology implementations or organisational changes. Regular assessments help ensure that your defences remain effective against evolving threats and that your incident response strategies are up-to-date.

Let’s make things happen

Fill in the form and one of our team will be in touch for a no-obligation discussion or quote regarding your requirements.

info@cognisys.co.uk
Leeds office

5 Park Place
Leeds
LS1 2RU

info@cognisys.co.uk
London office

131 Finsbury Pavement
London
EC2A 1NT