Cyber security and cyber threats have a history spanning over half a century, beginning with the development of secure data transmission and the first computer viruses in the 1960s and 1970s. They have continued to evolve alongside each other, leading to a multitude of cyber security strategies existing for organisations to choose from. This blog investigates the category of offensive cyber security strategies and how they can protect businesses from ever-changing cyber threats.
Cyber security strategies can be broadly classified as reactive or proactive. Reactive security involves addressing threats after they occur. While organisations may have strong defences in place, such as a Security Operations Centre (SOC) with experts monitoring and mitigating threats, relying solely on this approach may not be sufficient. Cyber threats are increasingly pervasive, with nearly half of UK businesses experiencing attacks in 2023-2024. Reacting to a breach can incur significant costs, which could potentially disrupt a company’s operations.
To reduce risks, adopting a proactive cyber security approach is essential. Proactivity involves measures that prevent attacks before they happen, such as employee cyber education and cyber assessments spotting threats before they can occur.
However, taking a truly proactive approach goes beyond assessments and training. Organisations must actively seek out and address vulnerabilities before cyber criminals can exploit them, through offensive cyber security.
"Offensive" cyber security doesn't involve pursuing cyber criminals in real life. Instead, it focuses on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they are exploited by attackers. Offensive cyber security strategies can uncover hidden risks and security gaps. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common offensive cyber security methods, which fall under two main categories: Penetration Testing and Red Teaming.
Also known as a Pen Test, Penetration Testing is the evaluation of computer systems through authorised simulated attacks. The purpose is to expose as many vulnerabilities as possible across the tested part of a system, so that these vulnerabilities can be addressed before they can be exploited during a cyber attack. Because of the complexity and diversity of what is included with modern computer systems, several specialised forms exist, which can either be applied separately or combined for a comprehensive review.
Web, Mobile, and Desktop Application testing all exist to ensure that three very different, but interconnected aspects of computer systems can all be fully tested. For example, the type of vulnerabilities that could be exploited through a physical device may be very different from the ones that could arise through web and mobile applications.
Regardless of the target, a good quality pen test should encompass a multi-stage process that moves from research to exploitation of security flaws to detailed reporting, allowing clients gain a complete and accurate view of their security posture.
Red Teaming refers to a group of cyber security professionals who simulate the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of real-world attackers to test an organisation’s security measures. While Penetration Testing focuses on finding vulnerabilities in specific systems, Red Teaming takes a broader approach, assessing how well an organisation's security teams can detect and respond to a sophisticated, ongoing attack.
Red Teams often operate covertly, trying to remain undetected as they exploit security gaps. In addition to testing technical defences, Red Teaming evaluates people, policies, and procedures. This can include social engineering exercises to see if employees can resist phishing or other deceptive tactics. Red Teaming may also involve simulating ransomware attacks to test the organisation's readiness for a real-world ransom scenario.
The Red Team contrasts with a Blue Team, which is an organisation’s defenders and may align with the previously mentioned SOC team. Although applying very different techniques, they both work for the benefit of the organisation. Exercises and assessments that involve Red and Blue Team collaboration are known as Purple Teaming.
To learn more about the work of Red, Blue, and Purple Teams, you can download our infographic here.
As we’ve discussed, Penetration Testing and Red Teaming are two crucial offensive cyber security strategies used by organisations to identify vulnerabilities and improve defences. While both approaches aim to enhance security, they differ significantly in focus, execution, and objectives.
Penetration Testing is a focused, technical process where cyber security experts simulate attacks on a single technology stack, often as part of a project lifecycle or a compliance requirement (e.g., monthly or annual assessments). The goal is to identify as many vulnerabilities as possible, demonstrate how they can be exploited, and provide risk ratings and remediation actions, such as installing patches or reconfiguring software. Penetration Testing is highly effective at addressing technical weaknesses in systems, applications, or networks. However, it has a narrow focus—it does not assess detection or response capabilities, nor does it evaluate the effectiveness of people, policies, or procedures. The output is typically a report with specific vulnerabilities and recommendations but doesn’t simulate long-term, undetected attacks or incorporate human factors like social engineering.
Red Teaming, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive, adversarial approach with a defined objective. Red Teams emulate real-world attackers with specific goals, such as gaining access to a system, email account, or file share. The team will mimic the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of real threat actors relevant to the organisation’s risk profile. For example, a finance company might be targeted by known Financially Motivated (FIN) groups, and a Red Team would simulate those specific attack methods. This enables organisations to focus on building defences and response capabilities tailored to the threats they face. Unlike Penetration Testing, Red Teams assess the organisation’s overall security posture—looking at people, processes, and technology—while focusing on stealth and minimising privilege escalation to avoid detection. Red Team engagements are more holistic, as they test not only the technology but also the effectiveness of security measures and the ability of staff to detect and respond to real, persistent threats.
Ultimately, Penetration Testing and Red Teaming should be viewed as complementary strategies rather than competing ones. Many organisations benefit from using both methods together. Penetration Testing can be a valuable first step in identifying technical vulnerabilities, which can then be addressed before conducting a Red Team engagement to test broader security measures. Red Teaming evaluates how well employees, processes, and systems can handle a sophisticated, ongoing attack, providing insights that a penetration test alone would not. While Penetration Testing is often more cost-effective for smaller organisations, Red Teaming provides deeper, more actionable insights, especially for mature organisations seeking a full-spectrum security evaluation.
In summary, where Penetration Testing excels at identifying specific technical vulnerabilities, Red Teaming offers a broader, real-world test of an organisation’s security defences, making it critical for preparing against motivated and advanced adversaries. By integrating both approaches, organisations can strengthen their security posture, addressing vulnerabilities across both systems and processes and ensuring better overall resilience against evolving threats.
At CSA Cyber we have decades of experience across the private sector, as well as military and government cyber security, giving us extensive knowledge of dealing with all cyber threats. This variety of experience means we can provide a comprehensive array of both offensive and defensive cyber security strategies, from Red Teaming and Penetration Testing to a complete SOC.
Cyber security underpins everything in the digital world, which is why we are proud to work to enable your modern infrastructure and online activity. If you would like to know more, reach out today to find out which cyber security strategies are right for you.