SEC565: Red Team Operations and Adversary Emulation

Important! Bring your own system configured according to these instructions.

A properly configured system is required to fully participate in this course. If you do not carefully read and follow these instructions, you will not be able to fully participate in hands-on exercises in your course. Therefore, please arrive with a system meeting all of the specified requirements.

Back up your system before class. Better yet, use a system without any sensitive/critical data. SANS is not responsible for your system or data.

Mandatory System Hardware Requirements

• CPU: 64-bit Intel i5/i7 (8th generation or newer), or AMD equivalent. A x64 bit, 2.0+ GHz or newer processor is mandatory for this class.
• CRITICAL: Apple Silicon devices cannot perform the necessary virtualization and therefore cannot in any way be used for this course.
• BIOS settings must be set to enable virtualization technology, such as "Intel-VTx" or "AMD-V" extensions. Be absolutely certain you can access your BIOS if it is password protected, in case changes are necessary.
• 16GB of RAM or more is required.
• 100GB of free storage space or more is required.
• At least one available USB 3.0 Type-A port. A Type-C to Type-A adapter may be necessary for newer laptops. Some endpoint protection software prevents the use of USB devices, so test your system with a USB drive before class.
• Wireless networking (802.11 standard) is required. There is no wired Internet access in the classroom.

Mandatory Host Configuration And Software Requirements

• Your host operating system must be the latest version of Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS 10.15.x or newer.
• Fully update your host operating system prior to the class to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed.
• Linux hosts are not supported in the classroom due to their numerous variations. If you choose to use Linux as your host, you are solely responsible for configuring it to work with the course materials and/or VMs.
• Local Administrator Access is required. (Yes, this is absolutely required. Don't let your IT team tell you otherwise.) If your company will not permit this access for the duration of the course, then you should make arrangements to bring a different laptop.
• You should ensure that antivirus or endpoint protection software is disabled, fully removed, or that you have the administrative privileges to do so. Many of our courses require full administrative access to the operating system and these products can prevent you from accomplishing the labs.
• Any filtering of egress traffic may prevent accomplishing the labs in your course. Firewalls should be disabled or you must have the administrative privileges to disable it.
• Download and install VMware Workstation Pro 16.2.X+ or VMware Player 16.2.X+ (for Windows 10 hosts), VMware Workstation Pro 17.0.0+ or VMware Player 17.0.0+ (for Windows 11 hosts), or VMWare Fusion Pro 12.2+ or VMware Fusion Player 11.5+ (for macOS hosts) prior to class beginning. If you do not own a licensed copy of VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Fusion Pro, you can download a free 30-day trial copy from VMware. VMware will send you a time-limited serial number if you register for the trial at their website. Also note that VMware Workstation Player offers fewer features than VMware Workstation Pro. For those with Windows host systems, Workstation Pro is recommended for a more seamless student experience.
• On Windows hosts, VMware products might not coexist with the Hyper-V hypervisor. For the best experience, ensure VMware can boot a virtual machine. This may require disabling Hyper-V. Instructions for disabling Hyper-V, Device Guard, and Credential Guard are contained in the setup documentation that accompanies your course materials.
• Download and install 7-Zip (for Windows Hosts) or Keka (for macOS hosts). These tools are also included in your downloaded course materials.

Your course media is delivered via download. The media files for class can be large. Many are in the 40-50GB range, with some over 100GB. You need to allow plenty of time for the download to complete. Internet connections and speed vary greatly and are dependent on many different factors. Therefore, it is not possible to give an estimate of the length of time it will take to download your materials. Please start your course media downloads as soon as you get the link. You will need your course media immediately on the first day of class. Do not wait until the night before class to start downloading these files.

Your course materials include a "Setup Instructions" document that details important steps you must take before you travel to a live class event or start an online class. It may take 30 minutes or more to complete these instructions.

Your class uses an electronic workbook for its lab instructions. In this new environment, a second monitor and/or a tablet device can be useful for keeping class materials visible while you are working on your course's labs.

If you have additional questions about the laptop specifications, please contact customer service.

• Security professionals interested in expanding their knowledge of Red Team engagements
• Penetration testers and Red Team members looking to integrate AI into their workflows
• Blue Team members, defenders, and forensic specialists
• Auditors who need to build deeper technical skills
• Information security managers

The GIAC Red Team Professional (GRTP) certification validates an individual’s ability to conduct end-to-end Red Team engagements. GRTP certification holders have demonstrated knowledge of building an adversary emulation plan, establishing a C2 infrastructure, and emulating adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to assist in improving overall security.

• Building an adversary emulation plan using gathered threat intelligence
• Creating a comprehensive attack infrastructure
• Performing target reconnaissance
• Gaining initial access
• Network and Active Directory enumeration
• Propagate throughout the network
• Active Directory attacks
• Bypassing common defense mechanisms
• Collect and exfiltrate sensitive data
• Producing an engagement report
• Presenting Red Team actions to key personnel
• Performing retesting and replaying of Red Team activities

More Certification Details

• Custom Ubuntu Image for SEC565
• Comprehensive course courseware and lab workbook
• Access to the immersive CTF environment
• Hands-on experience with Cobalt Strike and Empire
• Practical skills in AI-assisted offensive security
• Print and digital course books
• MP3 audio files of the entire course
• A collection of virtual SEC565 lab blueprint posters designed for operational reference during adversary emulation, Red Team exercises, and enterprise attack simulations, during the course and on your day job. Download it here: The Red Team Blueprint

The concepts and exercises in this course are built on the fundamentals of offensive security. An understanding of general penetration testing concepts and tools is encouraged, and a background in security fundamentals will provide a solid foundation upon which to build Red Team concepts.

Suggested experience:

• Experience penetration testing or administering Active Directory environments
• Experience penetration testing Windows
• Usage of Windows as a standard user and administrator
• Experience with Linux for offensive purposes

Many of the Red Team concepts taught in this course are suitable for anyone in the security community. Both technical staff and management personnel will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Red Team exercises and adversary emulations.

The SEC565 training course is part of the Offensive Operations curriculum. In addition to SEC565, SANS offers SEC670 Red Team training on Windows Tool Development.

Other specialized areas within the Offensive Operations curriculum include pen testing and cloud, specialized penetration testing, and purple team.

Red team training is advanced cybersecurity instruction focused on emulating real-world adversaries to test and improve an organization’s security posture. Unlike traditional penetration testing, which often has limited scope and known boundaries, red teaming involves goal-oriented operations designed to simulate how an actual threat actor might breach a system, remain undetected, and achieve specific objectives (like exfiltrating data or gaining domain control).

Red teamers are trained to think like adversaries, leveraging tools, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) used by real-world attackers. This mindset allows them to assess the effectiveness of detection and response mechanisms, expose blind spots, and drive improvements across the defensive landscape.

Red team training is not just about breaking in—it is about sharpening the entire security system through realistic adversary simulation. It empowers professionals to go beyond defense, understand the enemy, and ultimately build more resilient organizations.

SEC565 will elevate your skills from traditional penetration testing to advanced adversary emulation. You will learn to execute complex, multi-phase operations, leverage cutting-edge AI tools for offensive security, and provide actionable, high-value insights to organizational leadership.

• Access to High-Demand Roles: Red teaming is a specialized, sought-after discipline within cybersecurity. Training prepares you for roles such as Red Team Operator, Threat Emulation Specialist, and Adversary Simulation Engineer.
• Stronger Market Value: Professionals who understand adversary tactics bring a unique perspective to any security team. These skills increase your marketability and can lead to significant salary growth.
• Advanced Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Red team operations require you to think creatively, adapt quickly, and operate under pressure. These are transferable, career-accelerating skills across all cybersecurity domains.
• Proven Operational Readiness: Red teamers execute real-world attack simulations. By training in these methods, you demonstrate not just theoretical knowledge—but hands-on expertise that employers trust.
• Expanded Professional Network: Through SANS training, you will connect with a global red team community. These peer and mentor relationships often lead to job opportunities, project collaboration, and long-term growth.
• Strategic Impact Across Teams: Red teamers don't just test defenses—they help improve them. Your training will position you as a security leader who drives measurable resilience across the enterprise.