Red Teaming

Red team services that test whether you would catch a real attack

A goal-driven adversary simulation against your people, processes and technology. We pursue the objectives you agree with us, record what your security team detects, and give you the evidence and fixes to close the gaps.

Objectives and rules of engagement agreed in writing before any testing
Initial access through phishing, exposed services or an assumed-breach start
Every technique mapped to MITRE ATT&CK for detection review
Purple team sessions that turn missed techniques into detections

Plan my red team exercise See a sample report Talk to an expert →

The credentials behind every engagement

2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards winner

Penetration Testing Solution of the Year2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards

Reviewed by Omair Manzoor, Founder & CEO, ioSENTRIX · Updated November 2026

Key terms: Red team vs blue team

Trusted by security teams at

See it in action

Nine days inside. Not one alert.

We pursue your objective by email or through the front door, record what your SOC sees, then replay it with your team until the alerts fire.

Campaign · Day 1Campaign · Day 6Goal reached · Day 9Purple team · Day 12Replay · Day 14

ObjectiveAccessMovementGoalReplay

01The attack path, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK

02What your SOC saw

03The result

INITIAL ACCESS · DIGITAL

Phishing link to a contractor

T1566.002

PHYSICAL · IF IN SCOPE

Cloned badge, rogue device

T1200

MissedUser reportedUnchallengedChallenged

CREDENTIAL ACCESS

MFA push fatigue

T1621

MissedAlert · 4 min

INITIAL ACCESS

VPN login, valid account

T1078

Logged, no alertContained

CREDENTIAL ACCESS

Kerberoasting a service account

T1558.003

Logged, no alertNot reached

COLLECTION

Payroll file share

T1039

MissedNot reached

EXFILTRATION

Marker data to cloud storage

T1567.002

MissedNot reached

SOC alert queue · this activity

0 alertsNine days of attacker activity. Two events logged, none escalated.

13:02Phishing reported · badge clone challenged at doorUser report

13:06MFA push burst · c.contractorHigh

13:24Account disabled · VPN session endedContained

OBJECTIVE AGREED WITH YOU

Read payroll data, undetectedIn progressReached · no alertReplayingContained

TIME UNDETECTEDTIME TO CONTAIN ON REPLAY

Day 0Day 1Day 2Day 4Day 6Day 8Day 922 min

PURPLE TEAM · DAY 12We replay each technique with your SOC and tune the detections that missed.

Mapped toMITRE ATT&CKDetection timelinePurple team replayPhysical entry, if in scope

Swipe to see the full exhibit →

The test is your detection

A red team measures whether your people and tools notice, not just whether a door is open.

Logged is not detected

Two steps reached the logs and no one was alerted. The gap is in the rules, not the data.

Purple team closes it

We replay each technique with your SOC until the alert fires and the path is contained.

Read this exhibit as text

We agree one objective with you: read payroll data without being detected.
Initial access, digital: a phishing link to a contractor (MITRE ATT&CK T1566.002). Missed.
Initial access, physical, when in scope: a cloned access badge and a rogue network device in the office (T1200, hardware additions). Not challenged.
MFA push fatigue gets the contractor to approve a sign-in (T1621). Missed.
A VPN login with the valid account (T1078) and Kerberoasting of a service account (T1558.003) are logged, but no alert is raised.
The payroll file share is read (T1039) and agreed marker data is sent to cloud storage (T1567.002). Missed. After nine days the objective is reached with no alert.
Purple team: we replay each technique with your SOC and tune the detections that missed.
Replay: the phishing email is reported, the badge clone is challenged at the door, the MFA push burst alerts in 4 minutes and the account is contained in 22 minutes. The rest of the path is not reached.

Source: ioSENTRIX red team methodology; MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise. Illustrative campaign at a fictional company, not client data.

Physical red teaming

Physical security testing, when it is in scope

Real attackers do not only send email. When you include it in the rules of engagement, we test whether someone can walk in, plug in and reach the same objective.

Facility

Facility entry testing

Whether an outsider can get past reception, side doors and visitor processes.

Tailgating and piggybacking
Side and loading doors
Visitor and contractor sign-in

Access cards

Badge cloning

Whether access cards can be read and copied, and whether your readers accept the copy.

Card technology review
Clone and replay attempts
Reader configuration

Devices

Rogue device placement

Whether a small device left in a meeting room can reach your internal network (MITRE ATT&CK T1200).

Open network ports
Network access control
Device discovery by your SOC

People

Staff response

Whether staff challenge strangers and report what they see.

Challenge and escalation
Reporting to security
Same detection timeline

Physical testing runs only with your written authorization and agreed rules of engagement, and its results appear in the same report and detection timeline as the digital campaign.

The short answer

What are red team services?

Red team services are goal-driven adversary simulations in which testers act like a real attacker to reach agreed objectives, such as access to customer data or a payment system, while your security team defends as normal. A red team assessment measures whether attacks are prevented, detected and contained, not how many vulnerabilities exist.

A penetration test tries to find as many exploitable weaknesses as possible within a defined scope. Red teaming tests your detection and response: operators move quietly, chain techniques mapped to MITRE ATT&CK, and record when, or whether, your team noticed. Purple teaming then replays those techniques alongside your defenders to close the gaps.

At ioSENTRIX, red team exercises are run by certified operators at a CREST-accredited firm under rules of engagement agreed in writing. Testing an AI model or LLM application instead? See AI red teaming.

Red teaming fits when

You run regular pentests and want a harder, end-to-end test
You have a SOC, MDR or EDR and need to know whether it catches real attacks
Leadership wants to know whether a specific worst case is reachable
You need evidence for a red team control such as NIST SP 800-53 CA-8(2)

What we test

Four stages, one campaign

Your objectives decide the route. Most red team assessments cover these four stages.

Initial access

Getting in

The ways a real attacker would gain a first foothold.

Targeted phishing and pretext calls, where agreed
Exposed services and remote access
Leaked or reused credentials
Assumed-breach start from a standard account

Movement

Moving through

Turning one foothold into access to what matters.

Active Directory and identity attack paths
Lateral movement between hosts
Cloud and SaaS identity abuse
Privilege escalation

Objective

Reaching the goal

Proving impact on the outcomes you named.

Access to crown-jewel data or systems
Controlled exfiltration of agreed marker data
Abuse of business processes
Evidence captured without real harm

Defense

Detection and response

Measuring what your defenders saw and did.

Detection and alert timeline
EDR and logging coverage gaps
Escalation and response handling
Purple team replay of missed techniques

Methodology

How we test: example campaign techniques

Campaigns are built from the objectives and rules of engagement you agree with us. These are typical techniques, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK.

T1566

Targeted phishing for initial access

Pretexts built from public information about your organization, aimed at a foothold on a workstation or a valid login.

T1078

Valid account abuse

Credentials found or captured during the campaign are used to blend in with normal user activity.

T1621

MFA prompt fatigue

Where agreed, repeated sign-in prompts against a captured account test whether users approve them and whether anyone notices.

T1558.003

Kerberoasting from a standard user

Service tickets are requested and cracked offline to move toward privileged access.

T1567

Controlled exfiltration

Agreed marker data is moved to an external web service to test egress controls and alerting.

Purple

Detection replay

Techniques your team missed are replayed alongside your defenders until each produces an alert or a documented decision.

Sample finding

What a finding looks like in our report

An illustrative example in our report format. Not client data.

Finding 01 · IllustrativeHigh

Objective reached: payroll data accessed through a phished contractor account, with no alert raised

MITRE ATT&CK T1566 Phishing · T1078 Valid Accounts · T1558.003 Kerberoasting

What we found

Credentials captured through a phishing pretext let the team sign in to the VPN as a contractor, because the VPN accepted a password alone. From there, a Kerberoasted service account with a weak password gave access to the HR file server. EDR recorded the activity, but no alert rule matched it and the security team was never notified.

Impact

An external attacker can reach payroll data and stay unnoticed.

How to fix it

Require phishing-resistant MFA for VPN access, move service accounts to long random passwords or managed service accounts, and add detections for unusual service ticket requests. Replay the chain in a purple team session to confirm the alerts fire.

What you get

What you get from every red team exercise

Not a vulnerability list. The story of the attack, what your team saw, and what to fix first.

Attack narrative and detection timeline

Each step of the campaign, the technique used, and when your team detected or missed it, with evidence and remediation guidance.

Mapped to MITRE ATT&CK

Every technique is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK, so your detection engineers can test and tune the right rules.

Debrief, then purple teaming

The operators who ran the campaign debrief your defenders, and purple team sessions turn the gaps into working detections.

ioSENTRIX sample penetration test report cover

See how we write findings before you talk to us

A redacted sample penetration test report (web application): finding write-ups, proof-of-concept evidence and remediation. No form required.

Download the sample report (PDF) →

Verified reviews

What security leaders say about working with us

★★★★★

“Unlike other providers, Omair and his team truly dive deep into our infrastructure, delivering findings that go well beyond the surface level. Communication is direct and seamless.”

Jesus B.

Cybersecurity Manager, Banking

Verified G2 review ↗

★★★★★

“We were impressed with ioSENTRIX’s ability to independently validate the security of our customer-facing product.”

Zeehasham R.

Data Scientist, Security Operations · Fortune 500 insurer

Verified Clutch review ↗

★★★★★

“The team at ioSENTRIX is professional and highly skilled at their craft.”

Awwab A.

SVP, Chief Information Security Officer

Verified G2 review ↗

How it works

How a red team exercise works

Four steps, so you know what happens and what you get.

Objectives and rules of engagement

We agree the goals, what is off limits, who knows about the exercise, and how to stop it.

Before testing

Campaign

Operators pursue the objectives quietly and adapt to your defenses, with every technique mapped to MITRE ATT&CK.

Most of the engagement

Report and debrief

An attack narrative, a detection timeline and remediation guidance, walked through with your team.

At close

Purple team and retest

We replay missed techniques with your defenders, and retest once fixes and new detections are in place.

After fixes

Reply in under an hour → scoping call → fixed quote in writing → campaign window set by objectives → debrief, purple team and retest

How we compare

How is a red team different from a penetration test?

A penetration test finds as many weaknesses as possible in a defined scope. A red team pursues agreed objectives across people, process and technology, usually without warning your defenders, to test whether they detect and respond. Read red team vs penetration testing.

ioSENTRIX red team

Penetration test

Breach and attack simulation tool

Goal

Reach agreed objectives without being caught

Find as many weaknesses as possible in scope

Run scripted attack steps on a schedule

Scope

People, process and technology, end to end

A defined application, network or environment

Hosts where the tool is deployed

Defenders

Tested as they work, usually without warning

Usually aware of the test

Aware; results go to the security team

Adapts to defenses

Yes, operators change approach when blocked

Limited

Output

Attack narrative, detection timeline and fixes

Finding list with proof of concept

Pass/fail per technique

Plan my red team exercise

Purple teaming

What is purple teaming?

Purple teaming is a collaborative exercise in which red team operators replay attack techniques while your defenders watch, tune and confirm their detections. It follows a red team campaign or runs on its own, and turns missed techniques into working alerts. See what purple teaming is.

Scope and price

What affects the scope and price of a red team

Red team exercises are priced on effort. These are the decisions that move the quote.

What moves the quote

01How many objectives you want pursued
02Which initial access routes are allowed: phishing, external, assumed breach
03Whether cloud, SaaS and identity providers are in scope
04How long the campaign window runs
05Whether purple team sessions follow the campaign
06Retesting after fixes and new detections

Read: Rules of engagement in penetration testing: what to include →

What we need from you to start

The outcomes you are most worried about, in plain language
A small group who know about the exercise and can stop it
Systems, people and actions that are off limits
Legal and HR sign-off for any phishing or pretext calls
An emergency contact reachable throughout the campaign

Plan my red team exercise

Track record

Numbers you can check

Ratings you can verify on G2 and Clutch.

4.9 / 5

on G2 from 12 verified reviews

5.0 / 5

on Clutch, Premier Verified

2017

founded; CREST-accredited, ISO 27001 certified, SOC 2 Type 2 attested

Independently verified

Credentials held by the firm

Every engagement runs inside a company whose methods and own security are checked by outside bodies.

CREST-accredited for penetration testing

CREST assesses the firm's testing methodology, quality assurance and handling of client data.

View our CREST listing →

SOC 2 Type 2 attested

An independent auditor tested our own security controls over time.

Request the SOC 2 report →

ISO/IEC 27001 certified

Our information security management system is certified to ISO/IEC 27001.

View in our trust center →

Recognized independently

Penetration Testing Solution of the Year, 2026 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Awards. G2 High Performer, Fall 2026.

Award announcement →See our G2 reviews →

Founded in 2017.

Our commitments

What you can count on

Four promises we make on every testing engagement.

Free retest of every fixOnce your team fixes a finding, we test it again at no extra cost and update the report.
A fixed priceThe quote you sign is what you pay. The price only changes if you change the scope.
A report your auditor acceptsIf your auditor has questions about the report, we answer them and update it until it is accepted.
A reply in under an hourSend the form and we reply within an hour during US business hours.

Get a scoped quote

For your buying team

Everything your reviewers will ask for

Security, finance and procurement each need something different. Forward this page, or pull what each reviewer needs.

For security

Sample report

See exactly what you get: findings, proof of concept, fixes and retest results.

Download the sample report (PDF) →

For vendor risk

Trust center

Our SOC 2 Type 2 report and security documentation for your vendor review.

Open the trust center →

For procurement

Procurement pack

Master services agreement, sample statement of work, certificate of insurance and W-9.

Request the procurement pack →

For your team

Share this page

Send the link to the people who need to sign off.

Who you work with

Who does the work

Senior security engineers do the hands-on work and write up the results, so the person who found an issue explains it to your team.

Certified engineers

Each engineer holds one or more of OSCP, OSWE, OSCE, CISSP, CISA or AWS security certifications.

Accredited firm

ioSENTRIX is CREST-accredited for penetration testing, ISO/IEC 27001 certified and SOC 2 Type 2 attested.

Since 2017

Founded in 2017, with security work for Fortune 100, financial services, insurance and SaaS companies.

Ready to find out whether your team would catch a real attacker?

We reply in under an hour · no sales pitch

Plan my red team exercise

Standards

Frameworks we test and map to

◆MITRE ATT&CK◆NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 CA-8(2) Red Team Exercises◆NIST CSF 2.0 Detect (DE) and Respond (RS)◆PTES◆NIST SP 800-115

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is purple teaming?

Purple teaming is a collaborative exercise in which our operators run attack techniques while your defenders watch, tune and confirm their detections. It turns red team findings into working alerts. Read more about purple teaming.

What is adversary simulation?

Adversary simulation means using the tactics and techniques a realistic attacker would use against your organization, rather than a generic checklist. Each technique is mapped to MITRE ATT&CK, so you can compare what was attempted with what your tools detected.

Who knows about the red team exercise?

A small group on your side, often called the white team, knows the exercise is running and can stop it. Your wider security team is usually not told, so the exercise measures real detection and response. Everything is agreed in writing in the rules of engagement first.

Are we ready for a red team?

Red teaming gives the most value once you have security monitoring in place and have fixed the findings from earlier penetration tests. If you are not there yet, a penetration test or an assumed-breach exercise is usually the better first step. Read red team vs penetration testing.

How long does a red team exercise take?

A typical red team exercise takes 4–6 weeks, depending on scope, because operators move slowly to avoid detection. The window depends on your objectives and rules of engagement, and we agree it with you before work starts.

Resources

Go deeper before you scope a test

Practical guides from our testers on the questions buyers ask most.

Guide · 7 min read

Red Team vs Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Scanning

Learn the difference between red teaming, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning, including their goals, scope, methods, and when to use…

Read the guide →

Guide · 6 min read

Step-by-Step Guide to Advanced Red Teaming Process

Advanced Red Teaming is a threat intelligence-driven framework to assess cyber resilience, enhance defense strategies, and simulate real-world…

Read the guide →

Guide · 7 min read

Purple Teaming | ioSENTRIX

Are you looking to secure your data and organization while growing your operations? If so, purple teaming could be the answer. By combining red and…

Read the guide →

Keep exploring

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Ready when you are

Find out whether your team would catch a real attack

Tell us what you most want to protect. We will agree objectives and rules of engagement and send a fixed quote based on effort.

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