Posted on by Clem Maloney

Contractor Red Team to Test Government Cyber and Physical Defences

Description

Contractor Red Team to Test Government Cyber and Physical Defences

Sector: Government
Service: IT Resourcing & Security Assurance
Objective: Source and coordinate a contractor red team to identify vulnerabilities in both physical access controls and wired/ethernet network security, and support remediation.

Context

A government department, operating from multiple secure facilities across Australia, required an independent assessment of its resilience to targeted security threats. While internal reviews and compliance audits confirmed adherence to mandated standards, recent incidents in other agencies had highlighted the need for real-world testing to uncover vulnerabilities that a checklist might miss.

The department sought a discreet, highly skilled team with specialist capabilities in both cyber intrusion and physical penetration testing. Given the sensitivity of the work and the requirement for strict clearance levels, all personnel had to be vetted and security-approved before engagement.

Approach

123.EXPERT was engaged to source and contract a red team of specialist cyber security contractors, each holding current government clearances and a track record in advanced security testing. Working under the department’s Chief Information Security Officer, the contractors:

  • Conducted reconnaissance to map physical entry points, staff routines, and potential social engineering vectors.

  • Performed controlled physical intrusion attempts, assessing door access systems, CCTV coverage, and visitor management processes.

  • Tested wired ethernet security, including port controls, VLAN segmentation, and intrusion detection capabilities.

  • Simulated insider threats to evaluate detection speed and escalation procedures.

  • Documented vulnerabilities, risk ratings, and recommended countermeasures for both cyber and physical domains.

The entire operation followed a strict rules-of-engagement protocol, with minimal operational disruption and high confidentiality.

Impact

The red team identified several actionable vulnerabilities, including weaknesses in physical visitor verification, unmanaged network ports, and insufficient monitoring in certain secure zones. The department moved swiftly to address these findings — upgrading access controls, tightening network segmentation, and enhancing security monitoring and incident response.

By sourcing and managing specialist contractors through 123.EXPERT, the department achieved an in-depth, independent assessment of its defences. This contractor-led engagement provided not only a clearer understanding of current risks but also an actionable roadmap for bolstering security in line with evolving threat landscapes.