In today’s digital era, the rise of cybercriminals is fueled by our increasing reliance on technology. The widespread availability of personal data online has enabled sophisticated cyberattacks. These malicious actors are swift, constantly evolving their techniques to exploit new vulnerabilities.

This dependence on digital platforms has created significant opportunities for cybercriminals to target individuals and businesses alike. In 2020 alone, the FBI reported over $4 billion in cybercrime losses in the United States. (U.S. Department of State., 2025)

The Cyber Kill Chain Framework provides a structured approach to understanding and disrupting cyberattacks, while the MITRE ATT&CK Framework offers a comprehensive library of adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). These frameworks are essential tools for penetration testing and threat detection, helping organizations simulate real-world attacks, assess risk, and strengthen defenses. In today’s landscape, we must learn to adapt to evolving threats, identifying incidents early, before they escalate into full-scale breaches.

The Role of Red, Blue, and purple Teams.

Red Team

The role of a Red Team in cybersecurity is to provide a strategic and comprehensive assessment of an organization’s security posture by mimicking real-world adversaries’ Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs). They simulate realistic attacks, such as phishing, malware deployment, and lateral movement, to uncover technical, human, and process vulnerabilities. By testing detection and response capabilities, they evaluate systems like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and incident response plans, and deliver actionable insights to mitigate risks and improve defenses. Red Teams also enhance Blue Teams preparedness through collaborative Purple Team exercises, ensure compliance with regulations, and build security awareness by demonstrating the impact of potential threats. Continuously evolving to reflect emerging threats, Red Team act as ethical adversaries, helping organizations proactively strengthen their security and resilience.

Blue Team

The Blue Team is the defensive arm of an organization’s cybersecurity, focused on monitoring, detecting, and mitigating threats in real time to protect networks, systems, and data. They continuously monitor using tools like IDS, IPS, SIEM, and endpoint protection; respond to incidents through containment, eradication, and recovery; and proactively hunt for advanced threats such as zero-day vulnerabilities. Blue Teams strengthen security by patching vulnerabilities, configuring controls, and educating employees on cybersecurity best practices. They collaborate with Red Teams during Purple Team exercises to refine defenses, integrate threat intelligence, develop incident playbooks, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Their efforts, backed by layered defenses like Intrusion Prevention Systems, ensure business continuity, resilience, and trust in the organization’s ability to withstand evolving threats.

Purple Team

The purple team bridges the gap between red (offensive security) and blue (defensive security) teams. It fosters collaboration and ensures that offensive and defensive strategies are aligned. Key roles of the purple team include:

• Optimizing Security: Identifying gaps by integrating insights from red team attacks and blue team defenses to improve overall strategies.
• Promoting Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the exchange of tools, tactics, and techniques to strengthen the organization’s security posture.
• Driving Continuous Improvement: Acting as a feedback loop, using red team findings to bolster blue team defenses, and vice versa.

Leveraging MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Kill Chain

Organizations performing simulated attacks should use the MITRE ATT&CK Framework a comprehensive library of adversary tactics and techniques used in penetration testing and red teaming exercises. Additionally, the Cyber Kill Chain, developed by Lockheed Martin, provides a structured roadmap for understanding and disrupting attacks by outlining the stages of a cyberattack, from reconnaissance to achieving the attacker’s goals.

Together, these frameworks empower teams to:

1. Simulate realistic attack scenarios.
2. Identify and address vulnerabilities.

Strengthen defenses against evolving threats.

By integrating the MITRE ATT&CK Framework and the Cyber Kill Chain, organizations can proactively protect themselves from potential cyber threats.

Below, I’ve included a link of the MITRE ATT&CK Phases and Tactics for further review. Stay tuned for hands-on examples and exercises from both red team and blue team perspective.