executing-red-team-engagement-planning

name	executing-red-team-engagement-planning
description	Red team engagement planning is the foundational phase that defines scope, objectives, rules of engagement (ROE), threat model selection, and operational timelines before any offensive testing begins.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	red-teaming
tags	["red-team","adversary-simulation","mitre-attack","exploitation","post-exploitation","engagement-planning","rules-of-engagement"]
version	1.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0
nist_csf	["ID.RA-01","GV.OV-02","DE.AE-07"]
mitre_attack	["T1595","T1190","T1059","T1078"]

Executing Red Team Engagement Planning

Overview

Red team engagement planning is the foundational phase that defines scope, objectives, rules of engagement (ROE), threat model selection, and operational timelines before any offensive testing begins. A well-structured engagement plan ensures the red team simulates realistic adversary behavior while maintaining safety guardrails that prevent unintended business disruption.

When to Use

• When conducting security assessments that involve executing red team engagement planning
• When following incident response procedures for related security events
• When performing scheduled security testing or auditing activities
• When validating security controls through hands-on testing

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with red teaming concepts and tools
• Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
• Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
• Appropriate authorization for any testing activities

Objectives

• Define clear engagement scope including in-scope and out-of-scope assets, networks, and personnel
• Establish Rules of Engagement (ROE) with emergency stop procedures, communication channels, and legal boundaries
• Select appropriate threat profiles from the MITRE ATT&CK framework aligned to the organization's threat landscape
• Create a detailed attack plan mapping adversary TTPs to engagement objectives
• Develop deconfliction procedures with the organization's SOC/blue team
• Produce a comprehensive engagement brief for stakeholder approval

Legal Notice: This skill is for authorized security testing and educational purposes only. Unauthorized use against systems you do not own or have written permission to test is illegal and may violate computer fraud laws.

Core Concepts

Engagement Types

Type	Description	Scope
Full Scope	Complete adversary simulation with physical, social, and cyber vectors	Entire organization
Assumed Breach	Starts from initial foothold, focuses on post-exploitation	Internal network
Objective-Based	Target specific crown jewels (e.g., domain admin, PII exfiltration)	Defined targets
Purple Team	Collaborative with blue team for detection improvement	Specific controls