Red teaming, or the practice of detecting network and system vulnerabilities by taking an attacker-like approach to system, network or data access, has become a popular cybersecurity testing process across a wide swath of organizations. Sometimes referred to as "ethical hacking," red teaming helps organizations be more self-aware and prepares IT teams for swiftly recovering and rebuilding in the event that systems become infiltrated.
Considering recent research found that three in five enterprises fully expect to be breached this year, and a third expect they won’t even know a breach when it occurs, red teaming has never been more crucial. By designating a group to focus solely on challenging the security of your organization at all times, assumptions can be argued, faulty logic can be identified and limitations can be highlighted. And, knowing that the majority of data breaches can be tied back the misappropriation of digital identities and user credentials, identity management can also be battle-tested to find exposure points. By testing and monitoring your system, network or applications through the eyes of an adversary, red teaming can pinpoint alternative security options and reveal the consequences of an attack plan.