Red team testing is a multi-blended, simulated attack orchestrated from the perspective of bad guy or group of bad guys. The objective is to realistically simulate a virtual and physical security attack and attempt to uncover security vulnerabilities that might otherwise be discovered by bad actors.
While a red team engagement is an offensive attack simulation typically conducted by a third-party organization, it is sometimes juxtaposed with a “blue team,” or defensive team responsible for defending against red teamers and actual attackers alike. Sometimes, when both teams are working on an engagement together, it may be called purple teaming.