Hey guys!
I just started studying cybersecurity at my university, and I have one wrong answer on my exam. This is the statement:
“Penetration testing tries to find and exploit as many vulnerabilities as possible, while red teaming operations aim to make the blue team stronger by staying focused on one specific area or task (for example, dumping database credentials).”
Is this statement true? Particularly the part:
“by staying focused on one specific area/task (for example, dumping database credentials).”
What I understand is that a red team focuses on more than just one specific area or task. They simulate real threats, which typically cover multiple attack vectors and strategies.
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As you mentioned in part of your answer, Red Teaming typically focuses on testing processes and people. The goals of a red team are set by the engagement or management’s request to go after a certain objective.
For example, the engagement scope may ask a Red Team to simulate a particular APT or threat emulator, phish their victims or assume phishing depending on scenario, go after a database and its data.
I’m curious to know what your exam was expecting as the correct answer.
Some people actually confuse Red Teaming and Penetration Testing and use the term interchangeably.
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The correct answer according to the exam was that the statement was correct. I was misled by the last part:
“by staying focused on one specific area/task (for example, dumping database credentials).”
I thought the statement was false and that the red team had a larger scope than just one specific task. However, since I’m at the beginning of my studies and wasn’t familiar with the rules of engagement. So, I guess technically the statement is correct.