Cyber attacks dominate headlines, but there’s another threat that is just as dangerous — and often easier for attackers to exploit. While businesses invest heavily in firewalls, endpoint protection, and cloud defences, many leave the physical front door wide open. A skilled intruder doesn’t need to hack your systems if they can simply walk in, bypass access controls, and steal sensitive data.

This is where a Physical Red Team Assessment changes the game. By simulating real-world attacks, it reveals the gaps in your physical security that traditional cyber security testing misses.

What is a Physical Red Team Assessment?

A Physical Red Team Assessment is an in-depth, real-world simulation designed to test an organisation’s physical security posture. Instead of focusing on digital vulnerabilities, a team of experienced professionals attempts to gain unauthorised physical access to company premises, mimicking the tactics of genuine adversaries.

The aim is to uncover exposures in access controls, employee behaviour, and security procedures that could allow malicious actors to infiltrate facilities and compromise critical assets. Unlike traditional penetration testing, which is confined to network and application layers, Physical Red Team Assessments address the tangible, human, and procedural defences that protect the organisation’s people and property.

These exercises are tailored to each client’s environment and objectives, producing realistic, actionable insights that inform both immediate fixes and long-term improvements.

The challenges organisations face

Even with investments in surveillance systems, access controls, and security guards, physical protection is only as strong as its weakest link — and attackers are adept at finding those links.

One of the most significant risks comes from human factors. Employees can be susceptible to social engineering, particularly if they have not been trained to spot and challenge suspicious behaviour. Attackers may tailgate staff through secure doors, pose as contractors or delivery personnel, or apply pressure by impersonating authority figures. Rapport-building tactics can quickly lower guards, allowing unauthorised individuals to gain entry without resistance.

Another frequent challenge lies in physical access controls. Poorly configured or inconsistently enforced systems create gaps that an intruder can exploit. This might be as simple as a security door propped open for convenience or as complex as exploiting flaws in an access card system.

There is also a wider cultural issue. Many organisations prioritise digital defences while underestimating physical threats, assuming that the risk of a successful breach is low. In reality, physical intrusion can be a fast and effective way for a motivated attacker to bypass layers of cyber protection.

Finally, internal threats — whether from a disgruntled employee or someone deliberately planted within the organisation — can bypass many standard measures. These individuals already understand internal procedures, making them difficult to detect without rigorous testing.

How Physical Red Team Assessments help

A targeted Physical Red Team Assessment from Integrity360 follows a proven methodology designed to replicate the strategies of skilled intruders.

The process begins with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering, where consultants use publicly available information to profile the organisation. This might include identifying building layouts, employee routines, or security contractor details — all valuable intelligence for a physical attack.

Next comes reconnaissance, observing the target over time to understand daily patterns, security patrol schedules, and potential points of entry. This groundwork ensures that when the breach attempt occurs, it mirrors the timing and tactics a real attacker might use.

The physical breach phase is the heart of the assessment. Here, the team employs a combination of social engineering, tailgating, and technical bypasses to gain entry. Depending on the agreed scope, they may attempt to reach restricted areas, plant rogue devices, or access sensitive information.

Finally, the reporting phase delivers a detailed account of every stage of the operation — including a timeline, photographic evidence, and clear descriptions of the exposures uncovered. Crucially, the report is paired with practical recommendations to strengthen defences, supported by a follow-up presentation to ensure the findings are understood and acted upon.

This end-to-end approach does more than highlight weaknesses. It provides organisations with a clear, prioritised path to improving their physical security posture, bridging the gap between policy and practice.

Why Integrity360?

When it comes to assessing and strengthening physical security, expertise matters. Integrity360 brings a combination of deep experience, advanced skills, and proven success to every engagement.

Our Physical Red Team Assessments are delivered by a team of over 20 offensive security professionals, all holding leading industry certifications such as OSCP, OSCE, and CISSP. Every consultant is a seasoned expert — we never send rookies into high-stakes assessments.

This is not just about credentials. Integrity360’s red team has a 100% success rate in penetration testing engagements, demonstrating the creativity, persistence, and tactical thinking needed to uncover exposures that others miss.

Clients also benefit from our industry-leading reporting, which goes beyond listing issues to provide clear, actionable steps. We work closely with each organisation to tailor assessments to their specific environment, ensuring that the results are relevant, achievable, and aligned with their risk profile.

In short, while we may not be the cheapest option, the value lies in the quality of the insights, the precision of the execution, and the tangible improvements to security posture. In physical security, as in cyber security, you get what you pay for.