Red Teaming

Red Teaming
Assessment

Think like an adversary. Test like an attacker. Defend with confidence.

External Red Teaming simulates domain-based attacks from reconnaissance to controlled impact. Internal Red Teaming starts from an assumed breach to test privilege escalation, lateral movement, and access to business-critical assets.

External · Domain-based Internal · Assumed-breach

Two Attack Paths. One Objective.

Assess how an attacker can enter, progress and reach business-critical assets— through an internet-facing path or an assumed-breach foothold.

External Red Teaming Internet-facing attack path Internal Red Teaming Assumed-breach attack path Business-critical assets One shared objective
External Red Teaming Internet-facing attack path
Internal Red Teaming Assumed-breach attack path
Business-critical assets One shared objective
External Red TeamingDomain-based external attacksimulationInternal Red TeamingAssumed-breach simulationinside the organizationReconnaissance & OSINTAttack PathsSocial EngineeringStealth InfiltrationPersistencePrivilege EscalationLateral MovementPost-exploitation ReportInternal ReconnaissanceIdentity & CredentialAssessmentPrivilege EscalationActive Directory / IdentitySecurityLateral MovementCritical Asset AccessSecurity Control ValidationDetection & Response

  • Reconnaissance & OSINT

  • Attack Paths

  • Social Engineering

  • Stealth Infiltration

  • Persistence

  • Privilege Escalation

  • Lateral Movement

  • Post-exploitation Report

External Red Teaming

Domain-based external attack simulation

Internal Red Teaming

Assumed-breach simulation inside the organization

  • Internal Reconnaissance

  • Identity & Credential Assessment

  • Privilege Escalation

  • Active Directory / Identity Security

  • Lateral Movement

  • Critical Asset Access

  • Security Control Validation

  • Detection & Response

External Red Teaming — Attack Lifecycle

Domain-based testing using approved adversary techniques to assess the external attack surface and initial compromise path.

Attack LifecycleEXTERNAL PATHReconnaissance & OSINTMap the organization throughopen-source intelligence andpublic exposure.Attack PathsIdentify realistic routes anadversary could use to reachvalued targets.Social EngineeringSimulate phishing andpretexting within agreedrules of engagement.Stealth InfiltrationEstablish a controlledfoothold while testingdetection of quiet entry.PersistenceKeep access after credentialchanges and routinedefensive actions.Privilege EscalationIdentify paths from standardaccess to higher-levelpermissions.Lateral MovementMove between systems usingavailable trustrelationships.Post-exploitationReportDocument what was reached,how, and the businessimplication.
Attack Lifecycle External path

  1. Reconnaissance & OSINT

    Map the organization through open-source intelligence and public exposure.

  2. Attack Paths

    Identify realistic routes an adversary could use to reach valued targets.

  3. Social Engineering

    Simulate phishing and pretexting within agreed rules of engagement.

  4. Stealth Infiltration

    Establish a controlled foothold while testing detection of quiet entry.

  5. Persistence

    Keep access after credential changes and routine defensive actions.

  6. Privilege Escalation

    Identify paths from standard access to higher-level permissions.

  7. Lateral Movement

    Move between systems using available trust relationships.

  8. Post-exploitation Report

    Document what was reached, how, and the business implication.

External Red Teaming — From Access to Impact

Fourteen controlled activities that take the engagement from reconnaissance through post-exploitation evidence and detection review.

Detailed InitialReconnaissanceMap domains, people, infrastructure andpublic exposure before any simulatedaccess.1OSINT TechniqueCollect open-source intelligence from web,social, leak and registry sources.2Network-based AttacksProbe internet-facing network services forreachable entry paths.3Cloud-based AttacksAssess cloud identity, misconfiguration andexposed cloud services.4Application-based AttacksTest web, API and application controls on approvedtargets.5Social EngineeringSimulate phishing and pretexting within agreedrules of engagement.6Stealth InfiltrationEstablish a controlled foothold whiletesting detection of quiet entry.7PersistenceKeep access after credential changes androutine defensive actions.8Privilege EscalationIdentify paths from standard access to higher-level permissions.9Lateral MovementMove between systems using available trustrelationships.10Post-exploitation ReportDocument what was reached, how, and thebusiness implication.11Physical Security TestingAssess physical controls where the engagementscope includes them.12A Detailed Storyline of the RedTeam ExerciseReconstruct the attack path as a clear narrativefor stakeholders.13Detailed SOC EffectivenessReviewEvaluate whether monitoring, alertingand response detected the activity.14
  1. 1

    Detailed Initial Reconnaissance

    Map domains, people, infrastructure and public exposure before any simulated access.

  2. 2

    OSINT Technique

    Collect open-source intelligence from web, social, leak and registry sources.

  3. 3

    Network-based Attacks

    Probe internet-facing network services for reachable entry paths.

  4. 4

    Cloud-based Attacks

    Assess cloud identity, misconfiguration and exposed cloud services.

  5. 5

    Application-based Attacks

    Test web, API and application controls on approved targets.

  6. 6

    Social Engineering

    Simulate phishing and pretexting within agreed rules of engagement.

  7. 7

    Stealth Infiltration

    Establish a controlled foothold while testing detection of quiet entry.

  1. Persistence

    Keep access after credential changes and routine defensive actions.

    8

  2. Privilege Escalation

    Identify paths from standard access to higher-level permissions.

    9

  3. Lateral Movement

    Move between systems using available trust relationships.

    10

  4. Post-exploitation Report

    Document what was reached, how, and the business implication.

    11

  5. Physical Security Testing

    Assess physical controls where the engagement scope includes them.

    12

  6. A Detailed Storyline of the Red Team Exercise

    Reconstruct the attack path as a clear narrative for stakeholders.

    13

  7. Detailed SOC Effectiveness Review

    Evaluate whether monitoring, alerting and response detected the activity.

    14

Internal Red Teaming — Assumed Breach

Begin with a controlled internal foothold and assess how an attacker could escalate access and move toward critical assets.

Assumed BreachINTERNAL PATHInternalReconnaissanceMap users, systems,applications, shares,services and internal…Identity & CredentialAssessmentAssess exposure ofcredentials, tokens,privileged accounts and…Privilege EscalationIdentify paths from standardaccess to higher-level oradministrative permissions.Active Directory /Identity SecurityAssess Active Directory,privileged groups, trustrelationships and identity…Lateral MovementAssess movement betweensystems and network segmentsusing available trust…Critical Asset AccessAttempt controlled access toagreed applications,databases, servers or…Security ControlValidationValidate whether endpoint,network and identitycontrols prevent or contain…Detection & ResponseAssess SOC, SIEM and EDR/XDRalerting, investigation andcontainment effectiveness.
Assumed Breach Internal path

  1. Internal Reconnaissance

    Map users, systems, applications, shares, services and internal network paths.

  2. Identity & Credential Assessment

    Assess exposure of credentials, tokens, privileged accounts and authentication material.

  3. Privilege Escalation

    Identify paths from standard access to higher-level or administrative permissions.

  4. Active Directory / Identity Security

    Assess Active Directory, privileged groups, trust relationships and identity weaknesses.

  5. Lateral Movement

    Assess movement between systems and network segments using available trust relationships.

  6. Critical Asset Access

    Attempt controlled access to agreed applications, databases, servers or sensitive systems.

  7. Security Control Validation

    Validate whether endpoint, network and identity controls prevent or contain attacker activity.

  8. Detection & Response

    Assess SOC, SIEM and EDR/XDR alerting, investigation and containment effectiveness.

Internal Red Teaming — From Access to Impact

Twelve controlled activities that take an assumed-breach foothold through escalation, critical asset access, and detection review.

Internal ReconnaissanceMap hosts, shares, users and trust pathsvisible from the controlled foothold.1Identity & Credential AssessmentTest credential exposure, token reuse andauthentication weaknesses on the network.2Privilege EscalationIdentify paths from standard access to higher-level localor domain privileges.3Active Directory / Identity SecurityAssess privileged groups, trusts and identity weaknessesthat enable deeper access.4Lateral MovementMove between systems and segments using availabletrust relationships.5Network SegmentationValidate whether segmentation and accesscontrols contain unauthorized movement.6Critical Asset AccessAttempt controlled access to agreedapplications, databases or sensitive systems.7Security Control ValidationValidate whether endpoint, network and identitycontrols prevent or contain activity.8CollectionGather representative information required todemonstrate the agreed objective.9Impact SimulationDemonstrate approved confidentiality, integrity orprocess scenarios without destructive activity.10Detection & ResponseAssess SOC, SIEM and EDR/XDR alerting,investigation and containment effectiveness.11Evidence & ReportingDocument the internal attack path, controlstested and business implication forstakeholders.12
  1. 1

    Internal Reconnaissance

    Map hosts, shares, users and trust paths visible from the controlled foothold.

  2. 2

    Identity & Credential Assessment

    Test credential exposure, token reuse and authentication weaknesses on the network.

  3. 3

    Privilege Escalation

    Identify paths from standard access to higher-level local or domain privileges.

  4. 4

    Active Directory / Identity Security

    Assess privileged groups, trusts and identity weaknesses that enable deeper access.

  5. 5

    Lateral Movement

    Move between systems and segments using available trust relationships.

  6. 6

    Network Segmentation

    Validate whether segmentation and access controls contain unauthorized movement.

  1. Critical Asset Access

    Attempt controlled access to agreed applications, databases or sensitive systems.

    7

  2. Security Control Validation

    Validate whether endpoint, network and identity controls prevent or contain activity.

    8

  3. Collection

    Gather representative information required to demonstrate the agreed objective.

    9

  4. Impact Simulation

    Demonstrate approved confidentiality, integrity or process scenarios without destructive activity.

    10

  5. Detection & Response

    Assess SOC, SIEM and EDR/XDR alerting, investigation and containment effectiveness.

    11

  6. Evidence & Reporting

    Document the internal attack path, controls tested and business implication for stakeholders.

    12

Internal Attack Path

  1. Foothold
  2. Discover
  3. Credentials
  4. Escalate
  5. Move
  6. Critical asset
  7. Detect

What the Red Teaming Exercise Proves

The assessment connects individual weaknesses into realistic attack paths rather than reporting isolated vulnerabilities.

Attack paths

How an attacker can move from external exposure or an internal foothold toward critical assets.

Security controls

Whether EDR, SIEM, SOC, identity, network and other controls prevent or detect attacker activity.

Business impact

What an attacker could access, compromise, manipulate or exfiltrate within agreed objectives.

Controlled techniques · Defined rules of engagement · Non-destructive execution · Evidence-led reporting

External: Internet-facing attack path Internal: Assumed-breach attack path

Next step

Defend with confidence

Talk with Ownzap about an Internal or External Red Teaming engagement shaped to your threat model, critical assets, and detection maturity.

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