Offensive Security

Offensive Security is the controlled simulation of cyberattacks against an organization to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. These assessments are carried out by ethical hackers who use the same tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) as real attackers, but always within a pre-approved scope and with explicit authorization.

In practice, Offensive Security consists of several methods:

• Penetration testing: Targeted testing to identify and, if allowed, exploit weaknesses in systems, applications, and networks.
• Red Teaming: Realistic attack simulations combining technical, physical, and social attack vectors.
• Social engineering: Testing the human factor through methods such as phishing, vishing, and physical intrusion attempts.
• Physical security testing: Evaluating physical access controls such as locks, access cards, and building entry procedures.

The result is a clear view of real-world risks, prioritized by severity and impact, with actionable recommendations for improvement.

Penetration testing is a core element of Offensive Security and can take various forms depending on the target environment and objectives:

• Web Application Pentest: Testing for common and advanced vulnerabilities, such as those listed in the OWASP Top 10 (SQL injection, XSS, broken authentication), as well as logical flaws and access control weaknesses.
• Mobile Application Pentest: Assessment of Android and iOS apps for insecure coding practices, API security issues, sensitive data storage, and encryption flaws.
• Infrastructure Pentest:
  • External infrastructure: Assessing internet-facing systems such as web servers, VPNs, and mail servers.
  • Internal infrastructure: Testing corporate networks for misconfigurations, vulnerable services, and privilege escalation paths.
• ICS/SCADA Pentest: Specialized testing of industrial control systems and operational technology, with emphasis on safety, availability, and regulatory compliance.
• Cloud Pentest: Security assessment of cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) focusing on misconfigurations, IAM issues, and vulnerable APIs.

These tests can be conducted in different modes (black box, grey box, white box), depending on the level of information provided beforehand.

Red Teaming is an advanced Offensive Security exercise designed to test the overall resilience of an organization against realistic and sophisticated cyber threats. The goal is not just to find vulnerabilities, but also to assess the effectiveness of detection, response, and recovery processes under real-world attack conditions.

Key characteristics of Red Teaming:

• Simulates real threats based on current threat intelligence and attacker TTPs.
• Combines technical attacks, social engineering, and physical intrusion attempts.
• Often carried out over an extended period (weeks or months) to mimic stealth and persistence.
• Can align with compliance requirements such as NIS2, DORA, and, in the financial sector, TLPT (Threat-Led Penetration Testing).

Alternative terms and variants:

• TLPT (Threat-Led Penetration Testing)
• Adversary Simulation
• Full-Scope Red Team Assessment

Red Teaming provides deep insights into how an organization withstands advanced threats beyond the scope of traditional penetration tests.

Defensive Security provides prevention, monitoring, and incident response, but without real-world testing there’s no guarantee those measures will work when under attack. Offensive Security fills this gap by:

• Uncovering vulnerabilities missed by automated scans.
• Validating whether detection systems such as SIEM and EDR can actually identify attacks.
• Training incident response teams under realistic attack conditions.
• Testing the effectiveness of policies, procedures, and security controls.

Together, Offensive and Defensive Security form a continuous improvement cycle that significantly strengthens cyber resilience.

A typical engagement follows these phases:

1. Scoping: Define objectives, scope, methods, and test limitations.
2. Intelligence gathering: Collect information (reconnaissance) via OSINT, network enumeration, and potential social engineering.
3. Attack phase: Conduct penetration tests, Red Teaming, and other offensive methods within the agreed scope.
4. Exploitation: Where permitted, demonstrate impact by escalating privileges or exfiltrating sensitive data.
5. Reporting: Deliver findings with technical detail, risk ratings, and remediation advice.
6. Retest: Verify that vulnerabilities have been successfully addressed.

Depending on the method chosen, an engagement can last from several days (focused pentest) to multiple weeks (full Red Team campaign).

Offensive Security testing is particularly relevant:

• Before and after major system or application changes.
• As part of compliance requirements (ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, NIS2, DORA).
• Following a security incident to determine if the same attack is still possible.
• On an annual or more frequent basis in high-risk sectors such as finance, government, and critical infrastructure.

Yes. Ethical hackers perform testing within agreed rules of engagement and with explicit permission. Risk is minimized by:

• Testing outside peak business hours where possible.
• Using safe proof-of-concept exploits.
• Coordinating with IT teams for immediate response if needed.

All potential risks are discussed and documented before testing begins.

Frequency depends on your industry, risk profile, and compliance requirements:

• At least annually for most organizations.
• Quarterly or biannually for high-risk sectors.
• After major infrastructure or application changes.
• Following incidents or breaches to prevent recurrence.

Regular testing creates a proactive cycle for finding and remediating vulnerabilities.

Many regulations require active security testing:

• NIS2: Often mandates periodic security testing for critical sectors.
• DORA: Introduces threat-led penetration testing requirements for the financial sector.
• PCI-DSS: Requires regular penetration testing for entities handling payment card data.
• ISO 27001: Recommends testing as part of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) cycle.

Offensive Security ensures your organization meets these requirements and can pass audits with evidence-based assurance.

By continuously testing and improving your defenses, Offensive Security builds a proactive security culture. It ensures:

• New vulnerabilities are identified quickly.
• Security teams remain skilled at detecting and stopping attacks.
• Security investments have measurable impact.
• The organization remains agile against evolving threat landscapes.