Red teaming is an advanced adversary simulation exercise that tests an organisation's detection and response capabilities by emulating real-world threat actors. Unlike traditional penetration testing, which focuses on finding vulnerabilities within a defined scope, red team engagements are objective-driven and test the full attack lifecycle from initial reconnaissance through to achieving specific goals such as accessing crown jewel assets, exfiltrating sensitive data, or compromising critical systems.
Red teams use the same tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) as real adversaries, mapped to frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and operate with minimal knowledge to simulate a realistic attack. Red teaming tests not just technical controls but also people and processes, evaluating how security teams detect, investigate, and respond to threats.
This makes red teaming particularly valuable for organisations with mature security programmes that want to validate their defensive capabilities against sophisticated attacks. Red team exercises may follow structured frameworks like CBEST, TIBER-EU, or STAR, and are commonly required in highly regulated industries such as financial services, defence, and critical infrastructure.
UK offensive security consultancy delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing, adversary simulation and CBEST, TIBER-EU and TBEST threat-led testing, mainly for financial services and other large organisations.
Penetration testing firm trusted by nine of the top ten US banks, with the Resolve platform for continuous attack surface management.
US penetration testing firm founded in 2011, running 600+ engagements a year with a fully remote, US-based team. Manual, expert-led testing across web, network, cloud, mobile, wireless, OT/ICS, and AI/LLM. Gartner Sample Vendor for PTaaS.
Global enterprise cybersecurity consultancy founded in 1999 in Oxford, holding rare CREST STAR-FS accreditation and delivering penetration testing, red and purple teaming, and PCI QSA services across five international offices.
Global Big Four professional services firm delivering CREST, CHECK, and CBEST-accredited penetration testing and red teaming services from London, serving the UK's largest enterprises and regulated organisations.
Munich- and Budapest-based embedded cybersecurity experts focused on financial services, automotive and mobility, manufacturing and industrial automation, energy and more. The services and platform go beyond compliance, supporting the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act, PCI PTS, UN R155, ISO/SAE 21434 and other standards and regulations.
CREST and CHECK-accredited UK penetration testing and managed security provider formed in 2026 from Pentest People, Bulletproof, and Target Defense, with CREST STAR/TLPT-FS capability and the GuardNest vulnerability management platform.
Elite UK offensive security consultancy specialising in CBEST/STAR/TIBER red teaming, advanced adversary simulation, and CREST-accredited penetration testing for FTSE 100 clients.
Full-service London-based cybersecurity consultancy with CREST, CHECK, and NCSC accreditations delivering offensive testing, managed detection, and strategic advisory services.
Global managed security provider with the elite SpiderLabs penetration testing team and deep PCI DSS compliance expertise.
Manchester-based independent cybersecurity consultancy with over 20 years of experience delivering CREST and CHECK-accredited penetration testing, red teaming, and compliance certification services.
CREST and CHECK-accredited UK penetration testing consultancy with CBEST approval, specialising in infrastructure, application, and simulated attack assessments across the public and private sectors.
Penetration testing finds vulnerabilities within a defined scope. Red teaming is objective-driven, testing detection and response capabilities by simulating realistic attacks across the entire organisation with minimal constraints.
Red team engagements typically last 4-12 weeks, allowing time for realistic reconnaissance, attack execution, and thorough testing of detection and response capabilities.
Red teaming is most valuable for organisations with mature security programmes including a SOC, incident response procedures, and endpoint detection. If basic security controls are lacking, penetration testing may be more appropriate first.