Red Teaming & Phishing Simulation

Planning and preparation

In the initial phase of the project, the scope and objectives of the exercise are discussed and developed. Identifying the right team members who will carry out the tasks and defining their various roles and responsibilities is crucial. At the very beginning, there is a clear focus on gathering information relevant to the project and ensuring that requisite resources are available and in place. Reconnaissance is the preliminary activity in any VAPT engagement and also forms an integral part of a Red Team exercise.

Threat Modelling

Following a detailed look at the target organisation, an analysis of potential adversaries is carried out. In a Red Team or Phishing Simulation exercise, understanding the motives and methods that real life threat actors employ is imperative to the overall success of the engagement. Activities should closely mirror the types of ‘in the wild’ tactics, techniques, and procedures that organisations face, in order to make the overall project as meaningful as possible. This helps to ensure that both the results and learning from the project are impactful.

Scenario planning

There are a whole host of Red Team activities – from exploiting a vulnerability (to gain access and steal information), through to compromising systems via deployment of malware, or using social engineering techniques to gather valid credentials. The scenarios relevant to the objectives of the project are meticulously planned at this stage. The groundwork for these is carried out, with adjustments and fine tuning made as necessary. For example, setting up the infrastructure required for the activities, crafting malware or creating a targeted phishing email.

Execution

Focus then switches to the actual running of the simulations. These activities normally take place for a predefined duration, as agreed between the parties during project scoping. Team members immerse themselves in the various tasks, taking care to record and capture important information that will be analysed later. Execution is designed to mimic real world threat actors, though always within the parameters and boundaries set by the parties. Special consideration is given to evading prevailing defensive measures and noting their performance and efficacy.

Analysis and reporting

The results of the exercise are analysed and then presented in an easily digestible report that neatly summarises the findings and details the activities undertaken. Key information is highlighted, with categorisation where relevant of priority items. The report identifies potential areas of improvement along with a list of recommendations and best practices. Incorporating the lessons learned from Red Teaming into ongoing security planning and operations is a great way for organisations to improve their overall preparedness and resilience to cyber-attacks.