Roadmap to red teaming From fundamentals to readiness

Think red teaming is just flashy exploits and domain admin trophies? Think again. It is discipline over drama, labs over luck, and cloud pivots when old tricks fail. Here is what it really takes to earn a seat at the adversary's table

- Aaditya Uthappa

Red teaming has always been one of the most talked about paths in cyber security. It sounds thrilling, the idea of thinking like an attacker while trying to protect organizations from real threats. While the allure is definitely appealing, beneath it lies a great responsibility, not just enjoyment. Becoming a red teamer is not an instant jump. It requires long hours of study, continuous practice and staying up to date with the latest trends and tools.

The journey begins with small basic steps. Maybe your first nmap scan or setting up your first lab box. This can also be something a little bigger such as your first job in cyber security. In that first role, you learn what security looks like day to day and it lets you build practical foundations in the fields of testing, external and internal pentests, evidence collection and training. It trains your mind to see things from both an attacker and a defender’s perspective. This initial experience instills the discipline, judgement and communication skills that are required to be a competent red teamer. Red teaming is all about covering these diverse domains and not just about exploiting flashy or big vulnerabilities. Practicingoften is key and the need to stay updated with the newest trends is absolutely essential.