Red Teaming

How far can an attacker get inside your organisation?

Multi-vector. Weeks on end. Undetected. We simulate APT attacks - and show you exactly where your defences fail.

Request a Red Team Engagement Our Approach

MITRE ATT&CK TIBER-EU OSCP-certified

Trusted by organisations across industries

94%
of red teams achieve their objective: 11 days
median dwell time (Mandiant): 4-8
weeks engagement duration: 0
freelancers - in-house experts only

Why organisations need red teaming now

Automated scanners and annual pentests are no longer enough. Modern attackers think in campaigns - your defence should too.

DORA TLPT since January 2025

Articles 26-27 DORA mandate Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) for financial entities designated by their competent authority at least every 3 years. TIBER-EU is the approved methodology.

60% start with phishing

More than half of all ransomware incidents in 2024 started with phishing. 33% of employees click on phishing links. A pentest won't find that - a red team will.

74 days to patch

An attacker needs 4 days to move through a network. The median time to patch a critical vulnerability: 74 days. Red teaming shows how attackers exploit this window.

Multi-Vector Attack

Four attack vectors - just like a real APT

A real attacker is not limited to a single channel. Our red team strikes your organisation in a coordinated way across all relevant vectors.

Technical Exploitation

Network exploitation, Active Directory attacks (Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash), privilege escalation, custom C2 infrastructure. Fully documented according to MITRE ATT&CK.

MITRE ATT&CK · Cobalt Strike · Mimikatz · BloodHound

Social Engineering

Spear-phishing with personalised pretexts, vishing (telephone attacks against helpdesk/IT), smishing, pretexting. We test whether your employees respond to targeted manipulation.

Spear-Phishing · Vishing · Credential Harvesting

Physical Security

Attempts to access secured areas, badge cloning (RFID/HID), tailgating, USB drop attacks, dumpster diving. Photo and video documentation available on request.

Badge Cloning · Tailgating · USB Drop

OSINT & Reconnaissance

What can an attacker find out about you? Employee data, infrastructure leaks, exposed services, GitHub repositories, dark web entries, social media profiles.

Maltego · SpiderFoot · Dark Web Monitoring

Three Engagement Models

We select the right scenario based on your security maturity and objectives.

Model Duration / Price Scope

Model

Full External Attack

Duration / Price

4-8 weeks - From EUR 25,000

Scope

Our team receives only the company name. Complete black-box simulation: OSINT, phishing, technical exploitation, physical access - everything an APT actor would do.

Model

Assumed Breach

Duration / Price

2-4 weeks - From EUR 15,000

Scope

We begin with a compromised foothold (employee account, infected device). Focus on lateral movement, detection capability, and incident response speed.

Model

TIBER-EU / DORA TLPT

Duration / Price

at least 12 weeks active, from EUR 50,000

Scope

For regulated financial entities: threat intelligence phase, red team test against live systems, mandatory purple team phase. Summary report submitted to the TLPT authority for approval (Art. 12(7) RTS 2025/1190).

What does a red team engagement cost?

Transparent pricing. Fixed-price quote in 24 hours. No hidden costs.

Model Duration Price

Model

Assumed Breach

Duration

2-3 weeks

Price

from 15,000 EUR

Model

Full External

Duration

4-6 weeks

Price

from 25,000 EUR

Model

Full-Scope + Physical

Duration

6-8 weeks

Price

from 40,000 EUR

Model

TIBER-EU / TLPT

Duration

at least 12 weeks active

Price

from 50,000 EUR

Includes purple team debrief and MITRE ATT&CK documentation.

Continuous red teaming - quarterly, plannable

Retainer model for organisations that want to continuously test their defences. Includes purple team exercises and ATT&CK coverage tracking.

Enquire about retainer pricing

Cyber Kill Chain

Our red team process

Aligned with the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain and documented according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Threat Intelligence & Scoping

Analysis of your threat landscape together with the white team. Definition of attack objectives and Rules of Engagement. For TIBER-EU: engagement of a Threat Intelligence Provider (TIP).

Reconnaissance & OSINT

Comprehensive passive and active intelligence gathering: social media profiles, LinkedIn scraping, technical infrastructure, DNS enumeration, certificate transparency logs, dark web monitoring, supply chain analysis.

Initial Access

Coordinated attack via the most promising vector: spear-phishing, VPN exploitation, physical access, supply chain compromise. Establishment of a C2 connection.

Lateral Movement & Privilege Escalation

Movement through the network: AD enumeration, Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, exploitation of trust relationships. Objective: Domain Admin or access to defined crown jewels.

Objective Achievement

Proof of access to defined targets: customer database, ERP system, SWIFT access, production control systems. Documented as proof-of-concept - no actual data exfiltration.

Purple Team Debrief & Report

Joint debrief with your blue team. Full disclosure of the attack chain with timestamps. Live replay of techniques in the SIEM. Prioritised recommendations and ATT&CK heatmap.

Red Teaming vs. Pentest vs. Vulnerability Scan

Three disciplines - a maturity ladder. Each has its place.

	Vulnerability Scan	Penetration Test	Red Teaming
Objective	Find vulnerabilities	Prove exploitability	Test defences
Scope	Broad coverage	Defined systems	Entire organisation
Vectors	Technical (scanner)	Technical (manual)	Tech + People + Physical
Duration	3-5 days	1-3 weeks	4-8 weeks
Blue team informed?	Yes	Yes	No
Best for	Compliance baseline	All organisations	Mature security teams
Regulatory	NIS-2, ISO 27001	NIS-2, ISO, NIST	TIBER-EU, DORA, KRITIS

Not sure what you need? We'll figure it out together in a free consultation.

TIBER-EU & DORA TLPT

Threat-Led Penetration Testing for the financial sector

Since January 2025, DORA (Articles 26-27) mandates TLPT for financial entities designated by their competent authority at least every 3 years. TIBER-EU, the framework developed by the ECB, is the approved methodology. The TLPT authority receives the summary report for approval (Art. 12(7) RTS 2025/1190).

Threat Intelligence Phase: Targeted Threat Intelligence Report on sector-specific APT actors

Red Team Test Phase: Attack against live production systems based on the TTI report

Purple Team Phase: Replay of offensive and defensive actions with the blue team, mandatory under Art. 12(5) RTS 2025/1190

Summary Report (Annex VII): Submitted to the TLPT authority for approval (Art. 12(7) RTS 2025/1190)

Discuss a TLPT engagement

Sample Document

Red Team Report

See how we document the complete attack chain - with ATT&CK mapping and detection gap analysis.

01 Executive Summary & Risk Assessment

02 Complete Attack Chain Narrative

03 MITRE ATT&CK Heatmap & Coverage

04 Detection Gaps & Purple Team Recommendations

Request a sample red team report

See an anonymised red team report showing how we document attack chains and identify detection gaps - free and without obligation.

By submitting you agree to our Privacy Policy. No spam - only the requested report.

How far would an attacker get inside your organisation?

Free 30-minute call with our red team. Fixed-price quote in 24 hours.

Schedule a Free Red Team Consultation

Free · 30 minutes · No obligation

Is red teaming right for you?

Red teaming is the pinnacle of offensive security - but it is not always the right starting point.

Red teaming is the right choice if you...

...already operate a SOC, SIEM, or EDR solution
...want to know whether your defences can withstand an APT
...need to comply with TIBER-EU, DORA, or KRITIS requirements
...already run regular pentests and want to take the next step
...want to test your incident response team under realistic conditions

Start with a pentest instead if...

...you do not yet have a dedicated security team
...you have never conducted a penetration test before
...your primary goal is a structured vulnerability list
...you want to test a single application or system

Learn about our penetration testing

Legally compliant from the first minute

Red teaming operates at the intersection of IT security and criminal law. We ensure every step is legally authorised.

Signed Rules of Engagement

Before every engagement: written authorisation by a legally authorised representative with clearly defined scope, permitted techniques, and emergency contacts.

Authorised under GDPR & NIS-2

Our authorisation is legitimised as a technical and organisational measure under GDPR Article 32 and NIS-2. Written consents protect against criminal liability.

In-house experts only

No freelancers, no subcontractors. All testers are full-time AWARE7 employees bound by strict NDAs. Data stays on our own servers in Germany - no US cloud providers.

Why AWARE7 for your red team engagement

What sets us apart from other providers

Pure awareness platforms don't test systems. Pure consulting firms are too far removed. AWARE7 combines both: we hack your infrastructure and train your employees: tailored to mid-sized companies, personal, without enterprise overhead.

Research and teaching as our foundation

20 %

Around 20% of our revenue comes from research projects for the BSI and the BMBF. Our studies, published at ACM and Springer conferences, analyse millions of websites and tens of thousands of phishing emails. Three of our executives are professors at German universities at the same time.

Digital sovereignty: no compromises

100 %

From first contact to final report, your data is stored on our own servers in Germany - no US cloud providers, no third-country transfers. Our AI also runs on our own hardware in Germany - with locally operated open-source models. Client and project data never reach external AI services. All staff are permanently employed, covered by social insurance and bound by uniform legal obligations.

Fixed price within 24h: predictable project timelines

Within 24 hours you receive a binding fixed-price quote without hourly rate risk. A well-practised team and standardised processes ensure a clear schedule with a defined start and end date.

Your dedicated contact

A personal project manager accompanies you from the first meeting to the final presentation. You book appointments directly with your contact person and keep the same contact throughout the project.

Peer-reviewed publications

Different Seas, Different Phishes - Large-Scale Analysis of Phishing Simulations

ACM AsiaCCS 2025

Oskar Braun, Jan Hörnemann, Norbert Pohlmann, Matteo Große-Kampmann

A Platform for Physiological and Behavioral Security

NSPW 2025

Jan Hörnemann

Privacy from 5 PM to 6 AM: Tracking and Transparency in the HbbTV Ecosystem

IEEE/IFIP DSN 2025

Jan Hörnemann, Norbert Pohlmann, Matteo Große-Kampmann

Understanding Regional Filter Lists: Efficacy and Impact

PoPETS 2025

Jan Hörnemann, Norbert Pohlmann, Matteo Große-Kampmann

Who is AWARE7 the right partner for?

Mid-sized companies with 50-2,000 employees

Companies that need real security, without paying for a DAX-corporation provider. Fixed price, clear scope, one point of contact.

IT managers & CISOs

Who have to argue convincingly in-house and need a report in boardroom language for that, not just technical findings.

Regulated industries

Critical infrastructure, healthcare, financial services: NIS-2, ISO 27001, DORA. We know the requirements and deliver evidence that auditors accept.

References

Client references

These case studies are available in German.

01 Live Hacking & Awareness PAYBACK GmbH Read case study (German) 02 Live Hacking & Awareness Munich Re Read case study (German) 03 Live Hacking & Awareness Fujitsu Read case study (German)

Security is also social responsibility

AWARE7 is committed beyond day-to-day business: as the founder of a scholarship at Ruhr University Bochum, we support the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. We are a member of the BSI Alliance for Cyber Security and train our own specialists. Our R&D certificate confirms our commitment to cybersecurity research and innovation.

Learn more about AWARE7

Frequently asked questions about red teaming

How does red teaming differ from a penetration test?

A pentest systematically identifies technical vulnerabilities in defined systems - the scope is clearly bounded and the blue team is informed. Red teaming simulates a real APT attack across all vectors: technology, people, and processes. The blue team does not know when or how the attack is coming. The goal is not a list of vulnerabilities, but the answer to a single question: can a motivated attacker reach your crown jewels - and how quickly does your defence detect the intrusion?

How long does a red team engagement take?

A typical engagement runs 4-8 weeks: 1-2 weeks for reconnaissance and OSINT, 2-4 weeks for the active attack phase (initial access, lateral movement, objective achievement), and 1 week for reporting and debrief. TIBER-EU-compliant engagements for the financial sector are considerably more extensive: the active red team phase alone lasts at least 12 weeks (Art. 11(5) RTS 2025/1190), plus preparation and closure phases.

Does our IT or security team know about the engagement?

Typically only a "white team" knows the timeline and scope - usually senior management, the CISO, and legal. The blue team (SOC, IT security) is deliberately not informed, so their detection and response capabilities can be tested under realistic conditions. After the engagement, a joint purple team debrief is held in which we walk through the complete attack chain and collaboratively close detection gaps.

Is red teaming relevant for mid-market companies?

Red teaming is suited for organisations that already have a security foundation - a SOC or SIEM, endpoint detection, trained staff. For SMEs without a dedicated security team, we recommend starting with a penetration test or our SME Security Assessment. A red team engagement delivers maximum value once you want to know whether your existing controls can withstand a coordinated attack.

What does a red team engagement cost?

Costs depend on scope, duration, and complexity. A focused technical engagement (2-3 weeks) starts from approx. EUR 15,000. A full-scope engagement including social engineering and a physical component over 4-8 weeks is typically EUR 25,000-50,000. TIBER-EU-compliant engagements for the financial sector start from approx. EUR 50,000. You receive a binding fixed-price quote - no hourly rates, no additional charges.

Which frameworks do you use?

We document all attack techniques according to MITRE ATT&CK - the international standard for adversary behaviour. For regulated financial entities we follow the TIBER-EU/TIBER-DE framework developed by the ECB and Deutsche Bundesbank. We also use the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain to structure campaigns and PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard) as a methodological foundation.

What is an assumed breach scenario?

In the assumed breach model, we begin with an already-compromised foothold inside your network - for example a regular employee account or an infected endpoint. This skips the perimeter phase and focuses testing on your internal defences: network segmentation, privilege escalation protection, lateral movement detection, and incident response capability. Ideal for organisations that have already tested their perimeter.

What happens during the purple team debrief?

In the debrief we walk your blue team through the complete attack chain - step by step, with timestamps, tools used, and artefacts generated. We show exactly which logs and alerts should have fired, why they did not, and how to tune your detection rules. On request we replay techniques live so your SOC can observe artefacts in real time in the SIEM and develop detection use cases.

Is red teaming required for NIS-2 compliance?

NIS-2 (Article 21 NIS2 Directive) requires policies and procedures to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity risk-management measures (Art. 21(2)(f)) as a minimum measure but does not name red teaming. For critical infrastructure operators and NIS-2-affected organisations with mature security programmes, red teaming is the most effective way to demonstrate the real-world effectiveness of your controls. For the financial sector, DORA (Articles 26-27) requires designated financial entities to conduct Threat-Led Penetration Testing (TLPT) at least every 3 years, and TIBER-EU is the approved methodology.

How do you ensure legal compliance?

Every engagement begins with a signed Rules of Engagement document (RoE), signed by an authorised representative of your organisation. It clearly defines scope, permitted techniques, emergency contacts, and data handling. This written authorisation protects against criminal liability. All testers are full-time employees of AWARE7, bound by strict NDAs, and process data exclusively in Germany.

Do you offer TIBER-EU/TIBER-DE and DORA TLPT for the financial sector?

Yes. We conduct engagements according to the TIBER-EU/TIBER-DE framework, which since 2025 is also the official methodology for DORA TLPT. The process includes: a threat intelligence phase (Targeted Threat Intelligence Report), a red team test phase against live production systems, and a mandatory purple team phase. Results are reported to the competent TLPT authority (BaFin, Bundesbank and, where applicable, ECB).