In computing, it is very normal to confuse certain terms, especially if their functions may be similar to a certain point. One of the most common confusions occurs between pentesting and red team, but they have several relevant differences. One of the first is the price of each service. What is this due to? We answer this question and many more in this article.
Here you will learn at once the differences between pentesting and red team so that you know how to choose the best option for you, based on your needs. These two terms are often confused, and therefore, this article will be perfect for you to understand how PenTesting helps identify vulnerabilities, while Red Teaming provides a more comprehensive assessment of an organization’s security.
What is pentesting?
Pentesting, or penetration testing, is an evaluation designed to detect and exploit technical vulnerabilities in a system or application. Imagine that a hacker tries to get into your systems: the team of pentesters does the same, but with the aim of helping to identify weak points to correct them.
The pentesting process is technical and usually focuses on specific areas, with clear and well-defined objectives. Pentesters focus on specific vulnerabilities within the boundaries of a system, network, or application.
Key Pentesting Features:
- Defined objectives: Pentesters work with a set of pre-established objectives, evaluating specific areas of the system.
- Limited duration: These tests usually last a few weeks, just enough to do an in-depth review without the need for long extensions.
- Technical focus: Focuses on specific vulnerabilities in networks, applications and systems.
An ideal example for pentesting is the launch of a new application that needs to be evaluated before going to market. Here, pentesting reviews each access point of the app to verify that there are no flaws that could compromise its security.
What is the Red team?
Red teaming, on the other hand, takes the security exercise to another level. It is not about testing a single application or system, but rather simulating a cyberattack across the entire organization, evaluating not only technical vulnerabilities but also the response capacity of the security team (known as the blue team).
In this type of exercises, the red team acts as if it were a real attacker, trying to infiltrate the company’s systems in any way, using everything from cyber attacks to social engineering techniques.
Key Features:
- Comprehensive assessment: The scope covers the entire organization, not just one system or application.
- Long duration: Red team exercises can extend over several months, simulating the stealthy advance of a real attacker.
- Varied methods: From physical attacks to phishing, emulating realistic techniques to evaluate the organization’s resistance.
Red teaming is ideal for companies that already have a well-established security team and want to test their ability to detect and respond to a real attack.
What is the best option for your company?
The choice between pentesting and red teaming will depend on the needs of your company:
- Pentesting: It is an excellent option if you are looking to identify vulnerabilities in a specific system or application, especially useful for evaluating the security of specific projects. In addition, it is usually more accessible in terms of budget and time.
- Red Teaming: If your organization wants to test its ability to defend and respond to real attacks, red teaming is the best choice. It provides a global view of the security of the entire organization and allows you to improve incident response protocols.
For this reason, the two options are powerful and complementary tools in a cybersecurity strategy. Pentesting is ideal for technical assessments in specific areas, while red teaming is perfect for organizations seeking a comprehensive and realistic assessment of their cyber resilience. Depending on your goals and resources, choosing the right approach will significantly strengthen your company’s security.
