Drawing the Line Risk and Ethics in Red Team Engagements
To all those who labor in the shadows of the digital domain, testing the gates and probing the walls, seeking what is hidden and exposing what is false — grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” — Proverbs 9:10
I. Introduction: Red Teaming with Conviction
Every red team engagement is a test — not only of technical skill but of moral clarity. When we simulate the adversary, we walk a theological tightrope: how do we act like attackers without becoming them? Where do we draw the line between righteous exposure and reckless intrusion?
The answer lies not in policy alone, but in Scripture, conscience, and clarity of mission.
“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” — 1 John 1:5
We are not authorized to cause fear or chaos. We are called to reveal truth, to guard the gates, and to expose what sin — or sloppiness — has concealed.
II. Theological Foundations: What Is Right?
Scripture defines the moral compass of the red teamer:
- Truth matters — “You shall not bear false witness” (Exodus 20:16)
- Authority matters — “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1)
- Restraint matters — “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Corinthians 10:23)
Ethics in red teaming flow from God’s nature: holy, just, wise, and merciful. We emulate the adversary not to glorify evil, but to reveal its footholds.
We are not hackers. We are heralds of hidden weakness. And we must do so without compromising the very virtues we are tasked to protect.
III. Defining the Boundaries: What Is Off Limits?
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
Love does not compromise. Love does not exploit simply because it can.
- No collateral damage — We do not attack production systems without containment and clarity.
- No personal harm — We do not harvest or mishandle employee PII for demonstration.
- No spiritual compromise — We do not revel in deception, even when authorized. We remain honest about what we are doing, why, and for whom.
Every action must be traceable to purpose. If a technique causes more harm than insight, it is not red teaming. It is reckless warfare.
IV. Risk as Revelation: Helping Organizations Discern
One of the most sacred tasks of the red team is not just exploitation — it is exposition.
We are not merely showing what can be done. We are illuminating where risk lives, so that leadership can faithfully weigh risk appetite vs. risk reduction.
“For everything that becomes visible is light.” — Ephesians 5:13
When we breach a domain controller, or pivot into production, or exfiltrate credentials — we are shining light not for ego, but for evaluation.
A righteous red team does not impose judgment. We present truth and let decision-makers respond according to their role.
What We Provide
- Likelihood — How easily could this happen again?
- Impact — What’s the blast radius of this compromise?
- Exposure — What systems, users, or data were involved?
- Path — Was this exploitation based on misconfiguration, assumption, or neglect?
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” — Proverbs 27:12
We aren’t the final judges. We are the watchmen on the wall, calling attention to where the defenses have eroded.
V. What Makes a Good Finding?
A finding is not merely a vulnerability. It is an insight into the moral and technical architecture of the system.
Good findings…
- Align with business risk
- Are reproducible
- Are not about proving our cleverness
- Invite thoughtful remediation
- Inspire change, not fear
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” — Proverbs 27:6
We wound the system not to boast, but to heal.
VI. Conclusion: Redemptive Intrusion
The red team is not the adversary — it is the revealer of assumptions.
Our job is not just to get in. Our job is to show the cost of misplaced trust, to highlight the cracks in confidence, and to do so in truth and love.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” — Ephesians 5:11
Draw the line not where policy allows, but where conscience convicts.
We serve a holy God. Let us red team in a way that reflects that holiness — with courage, with wisdom, and with reverence.
AthanasiusXOR
Contra Mundum. Code Obscurum.