Conducting Full-Scope Red Team Engagement

Overview

A full-scope red team engagement simulates real-world adversary behavior across all phases of the cyber kill chain, from initial reconnaissance through data exfiltration, to evaluate an organization's detection, prevention, and response capabilities. Unlike penetration testing, red team operations prioritize stealth, persistence, and objective-based scenarios that mimic advanced persistent threats (APTs).

When to Use

• When conducting security assessments that involve conducting full scope red team engagement
• When following incident response procedures for related security events
• When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
• When validating security controls through hands-on testing

Prerequisites

• Written authorization (Rules of Engagement document) signed by executive leadership
• Defined scope including in-scope/out-of-scope systems, escalation contacts, and emergency stop procedures
• Threat intelligence on relevant adversary groups (e.g., APT29, FIN7, Lazarus Group)
• Red team infrastructure: C2 servers, redirectors, phishing domains, payload development environment
• Legal review confirming compliance with Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and local laws

Engagement Phases

Phase 1: Planning and Threat Modeling

Map the engagement to specific MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques based on the threat profile: