The Red Team Journey: Mapping the Tactics, Techniques, and Phases

If you’ve chosen to move forward with a red team assessment and engaged Accorp to conduct it, you might be asking: What comes next?

This article outlines the entire red team testing process, from early planning discussions to the detailed phases of the assessment itself. Whether you're new to red teaming or have undergone other cybersecurity assessments, this guide will help set clear expectations and prepare your team for a successful engagement.

What Happens After You Commit to a Red Team Assessment?

Now that you've selected Accorp to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of your organisation’s security posture through red team cybersecurity, it’s time to understand the key steps that will unfold next. This includes early decisions that shape the assessment and a breakdown of the structured methodology we’ll follow.

Phase 1: Project Discovery (Planning Stage)

Every successful red team testing engagement starts with effective planning. During this collaborative phase, Accorp will work closely with your leadership team to define how the engagement will unfold. This includes:

• Appointing formal points of contact

• Establishing escalation procedures

• Defining alerting and observation windows

• Setting up active communication channels (e.g., chat for real-time updates)

Because the nature of red penetration testing is covert, only a small group of trusted stakeholders within your organisation will be aware of the test, typically including:

• CIO (Chief Information Officer)

• CISO (Chief Information Security Officer)

• Director of Operations

This restricted visibility ensures the authenticity of the simulation and gives you a true measure of your security team’s detection and response capabilities.

Phase 2: Defining the Red Team Assessment Goal

With your input, we’ll set a specific and strategic objective for the red team to achieve. This goal will guide the entire engagement and help focus efforts where they matter most. Examples include:

• Compromising a domain to simulate the theft of sensitive data or launch internal attacks

• Infiltrating your CI/CD pipeline to mimic real-world software supply chain threats

Setting a clear objective allows us to test your defences thoroughly while generating the most useful insights into your organisation’s incident response capabilities.

Phase 3: Establishing a Realistic Timeline

Unlike standard penetration tests, which are typically short-term, red team assessments are longer, more complex, and require careful planning and execution.

Most engagements run for a minimum of 4 weeks. Complex goals, such as multi-layered attack simulations or those involving multiple business units, may require extended timeframes and may affect the cost.

Accorp’s Red Team Assessment Methodology: 6 Key Stages

Once planning and goal setting are complete, our red team cybersecurity experts will begin the assessment. Accorp follows a structured methodology rooted in the MITRE ATT&CK Framework and aligned with NIST SP 800-83 (Guide to Malware Incident Prevention and Handling).

Here’s what the process looks like:

1. Reconnaissance & Threat Modelling

We gather intelligence using open-source intelligence (OSINT) to map your external footprint and identify potential entry points. Simultaneously, we conduct threat modelling based on:

• Industry-specific attack trends

• Organisation size and known vulnerabilities

• Your internal concerns or previous incidents

This phase builds the foundation for a targeted, goal-driven attack plan.

2. Vulnerability Discovery

Using insights from reconnaissance, we identify potential attack paths that will help us achieve the objective.

OPSEC measures are implemented to remain undetected, ensuring your security team isn’t alerted prematurely.

3. Exploitation

Next, we safely exploit vulnerabilities to gain initial access to your environment. Techniques may include:

• Exploiting code flaws

• Bypassing authentication mechanisms

• Gaining footholds in critical systems

4. Credential Access & Lateral Movement

Once inside, we analyse system privileges and attempt to escalate access:

• Discovering stored credentials

• Identifying privilege escalation opportunities

• Moving laterally to reach the intended target

5. Exfiltration

In this phase, we simulate controlled data theft or unauthorised access to sensitive systems while avoiding disruption to your operations.

6. Reporting & Debrief

After completing the assessment, we compile a detailed report aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK framework. This includes:

• Step-by-step breakdown of our actions

• Tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used

• Security gaps identified

• Actionable recommendations for improvement

Key Takeaways for Your Red Team Engagement

A red team testing assessment goes beyond vulnerability scanning or standard pen testing. It simulates a real-world cyberattack to test your defences, validate incident response capabilities, and uncover blind spots in your security strategy.

As you prepare to partner with Accorp for this advanced red team cyber security engagement, keep in mind:

• Define a clear goal that aligns with your business risks

• Limit visibility to essential stakeholders only

• Understand the time and resource commitment involved

• Use the results to train your blue team and mature your overall security posture

Ready to Test Your Security Like a Real-World Attacker Would?

Accorp’s red penetration testing and red team assessments provide deep visibility into your true security readiness. From planning to final reporting, our structured, proven approach ensures a realistic and value-driven experience.