We all know that cybersecurity threats are a big issue and are only continuing to grow in scale and sophistication. We can take numerous steps to help protect ourselves and our businesses and customers, such as using quality passwords, keeping systems updated, using top security software, and creating backups, among other things.
Yet, you’ll learn if you investigate the latest security trends and how Chief Security Information Officers keep data secure (check out https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/ciso.html for further details) it often pays to hire external parties to help out. In particular, a growing trend these days is what’s known as “red teaming.” Read on for the lowdown on this practice and why you should consider investing in it for your organization.
What is Red Teaming?
The idea of “teaming” is to run a cybersecurity exercise simulating an actual digital attack. With teaming, a business can get an idea of how well its organization will withstand cyber threats if they occur. Red teaming, specifically, is the phrase used to describe those who serve as attackers during the simulation. They utilize the same kinds of tactics that hackers use to try to break into systems while evading detection.
You can think of red teaming as a type of ethical hacking since it’s a way for independent security teams to test the defense readiness of internal security teams and ventures on a larger scale. If you appreciate the saying, “the best offense is a good defense,” you’ll see how testing and exposing a business’s vulnerabilities and risks can help firms spot potential issues and shore up digital defenses.
During red teaming exercises, people look for technology systems or processes that are susceptible to attacks, as well as the people within an organization and how their actions (or lack of action) may expose a venture to more cybersecurity risks. Teaming investigates networks, routers, appliances, switches, applications, and data, plus offices, buildings, warehouses, data centers, substations, etc. There’s also testing of employees, business partners, contractors, and departments within the organization.
This purpose-driven, multi-layered cyberattack simulation will help you understand how resistant your business is to real-world adversaries and where you may be complacent. You can charge a “blue team” with the task of defending the supposed attack and finding ways to increase cybersecurity.
How Does Red Teaming Work?
While every group may do things a little differently, most red teaming involves these stages:
- Goal setting for the exercise, such as locating a particular piece of sensitive data
- Mapping out of systems that need to be targeted for the test attack
- Employing one or more tactics to access systems
- Probing data, identifying extra vulnerabilities to exploit, and focusing on achieving the pre-set primary goal of the exercise
- Upping the ante until the target is reached
- Compiling a detailed report and going through an analysis process to explain how the simulated attack got completed and which prime vulnerabilities need addressing
- Re-testing over time
For the best insights, red teams typically use as many tools and strategies as they can, just like hackers, to engage in a full-spectrum mock attack.
Benefits of Red Teaming
As you can imagine, there are many benefits to red teaming. This process uncovers areas of potential risk that cybercriminals could exploit and shows you how hackers might move through your business systems. Red teaming can identify alternative options or outcomes, show you how to prioritize your plans and processes, and make it easier to develop a strong business case for digital and other security improvements.
Red teaming is an excellent way to probe and test every square inch of your business systems to spot issues ASAP and make it simpler to see how to detect, work against, and prevent targeted attacks. The exercise can involve helpful training and cybersecurity education for your whole team and make compliance across various frameworks easier. It will also help show you which pressing security needs to focus on first.
Who Should Use a Red Team Tactic and When
Pretty much any type of company or organization can benefit from red-teaming. Timing-wise, it pays to implement a red teaming project when you’ve recently implemented new security software or other programs or created new cybersecurity tactics for your firm. It’s also worth getting a red team set up if you discover a hacker breach or attack, and in general, every so often over the years to see what new gaps in security have opened up. 
Take your time preparing and planning for a red team evaluation and ensure it’s tailored to your firm’s specific systems. Determine which systems and processes need testing, and create a budget you feel comfortable outlying on this area. It may seem daunting to set up at first, but you’ll soon realize the investment is worthwhile.
