Evaluating security architecture from red team's perspective
Learn how to assess security architecture from a red team's perspective.
Evaluating security architecture from a red team’s perspective requires analyzing how defenses are designed, implemented, and maintained to withstand attacks. Unlike traditional security reviews, which focus on compliance and best practices, a red team evaluation looks at how an adversary would exploit weaknesses in the architecture to gain unauthorized access, maintain persistence, and move laterally.
One of the first aspects to assess is network segmentation. A well-designed security architecture should prevent an attacker from easily traversing the network once inside. Red teams analyze whether internal segmentation is enforced between different zones, such as separating user workstations from critical infrastructure or limiting communication between production and development environments. Weak segmentation or excessive internal trust can allow attackers to escalate privileges and pivot across systems.
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Identity and access management (IAM) is another critical area. Red teams examine how authentication and authorization are enforced, including the use of multifactor authentication (MFA), least privilege access, and privileged access management (PAM) solutions. Weak IAM controls, such as shared administrator credentials, over-permissioned accounts, or insufficient logging, can provide easy opportunities for attackers to gain control over critical systems.
Endpoint and network security controls are evaluated based on their ability to detect and prevent attacks. Red teams assess the effectiveness of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, antivirus mechanisms, and host-based firewalls. They look for gaps in logging and alerting that could allow attackers to operate undetected. Bypassing these security controls using evasion techniques helps determine their robustness against advanced threats.
Application security and data protection mechanisms also play a key role. Red teams analyze whether applications follow secure coding practices, implement proper input validation, and use secure communication channels. They look at how sensitive data is stored and transmitted, checking for weaknesses such as weak encryption, hardcoded credentials, or insufficient access controls. Poor application security can lead to unauthorized data exposure or privilege escalation within an environment.
Cloud and hybrid infrastructure pose additional challenges in security architecture evaluation. Red teams examine misconfigurations in cloud services, improper role assignments, excessive permissions, and lack of visibility in cloud environments. They assess whether organizations are leveraging security monitoring tools effectively to detect malicious activity across cloud workloads. Weak security configurations in cloud environments can lead to data breaches or unauthorized access to critical resources.
Logging and monitoring capabilities are crucial for detecting and responding to security incidents. Red teams may evaluate how well security teams can detect and react to suspicious activities. They check if logs capture necessary details such as authentication attempts, privilege escalations, and network anomalies. Gaps in logging or delayed alerting can provide attackers with extended dwell time before detection.
Security architecture also includes incident response and recovery capabilities. Red teams may also analyze whether organizations have well-defined incident response playbooks, backup strategies, and disaster recovery plans. They assess how quickly security teams can contain and mitigate an attack. Weak incident response processes can allow attackers to persist in the network even after detection.
Red Team Notes
Red teams evaluate security architecture by identifying weaknesses that adversaries could exploit. Key areas include network segmentation, identity and access management, endpoint security, application security, cloud configurations, logging, and incident response. Follow my journey of 100 Days of Red Team on WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord.