Explore what a red teaming exercise can reveal about an organisation’s response to a threat, including decisions, communication and escalation. A short introduction for directors and governance professionals.
Free PDF · 4 pages · Introductory guide
By Beyond Governance
- Understand the purpose of red teaming
- Consider the organisational weaknesses an exercise may reveal
- Connect findings with response plans, policies and oversight
Download the red teaming guide
Learning from a simulated threat
A response plan can look clear on paper while leaving important questions unanswered. A simulated threat gives an organisation an opportunity to examine how people respond, share information and make decisions under pressure.
How Red Teaming Supports Business Resilience introduces the subject through a cybersecurity lens. It then explores the wider lessons an exercise can provide about incident response, communication, third parties and organisational culture. The guide focuses on why these findings matter to governance and resilience.
What the guide covers
Identifying weaknesses
Read about the role of simulated attacks in exposing vulnerabilities that may be difficult to see through routine review.
Response and decision making
Consider what an exercise can show about how incidents are handled, decisions are made and responsibilities are understood.
Communication and culture
Explore how information sharing, escalation and awareness influence the way an organisation responds.
Third parties and policies
Consider how findings can inform the review of external dependencies, policies and the organisation’s wider approach to resilience.
Who the guide is for
Board members, risk and governance professionals, company secretaries and business leaders who want an introduction to red teaming before discussing its role with specialist colleagues.
What happens when communication is tested
An exercise may reveal gaps in how teams share information or escalate an incident. The guide considers these organisational lessons alongside the technical weaknesses a simulation may expose.
Why download the guide
It helps you approach red teaming as a source of information about organisational response. Use it to prepare questions about what an exercise is intended to test and how its findings will lead to action.
How to use it
Discuss the themes with your security, risk or resilience team. Agree which questions matter to the board and how lessons from any exercise would be reported and followed up.
Download the red teaming guide
Explore how a simulated threat can inform the questions your board asks about resilience.
Button: Download the red teaming guide
Related resources
The Provision 29 Readiness Diagnostic
Further support
Explore our boardroom advisory for support with governance arrangements and board oversight.
