What is Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART)?

As cyber threats evolve at lightning speed, organizations need more than traditional red teaming or periodic penetration tests. Attackers do not wait for annual security reviews; they exploit vulnerabilities in real time. This has led to the rise of Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART)—a proactive approach to continuously test, measure, and improve an organization’s security resilience.

CART combines the offensive mindset of red teams with the power of automation and AI, ensuring businesses are always aware of their exposure and prepared to respond effectively.

What is Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART)?

Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART) is an advanced security validation approach that leverages automation to simulate real-world attacks on an ongoing basis. Unlike traditional red teaming, which is time-bound and resource-intensive, CART provides:

• Uninterrupted attack simulations across endpoints, networks, and applications.

• Real-time assessment of defense capabilities against the latest threats.

• Evidence-based insights for executives and regulators.
  

CART integrates into the security operations center (SOC) and threat intelligence platforms, making it a cornerstone for cyber resilience and threat exposure management.

Why CART is Critical in 2025

1. AI-Powered Threats – Cybercriminals use AI to scale phishing, malware, and social engineering campaigns. CART helps defenders counter with equal automation.
   

2. Regulatory Pressure – Sectors like BFSI and telecom in India and GCC now require continuous validation for compliance.
   

3. Remote Work Risks – With hybrid environments, CART validates cloud apps, VPNs, and collaboration platforms continuously.
   

4. Business Risk Alignment – CART translates technical vulnerabilities into business risk metrics for C-level reporting.
   

CART vs. BAS: Key Differences

Aspect	CART	BAS
Scope	Broader, includes strategic campaigns	Tactical attack simulations
Focus	Security resilience & adversary emulation	Vulnerability & control validation
Frequency	Continuous	Continuous
Stakeholders	Executive boards, SOC teams, regulators	Security teams, SOC analysts

Benefits of CART

• Realistic Adversary Emulation – Mimics targeted attack campaigns, not just isolated techniques.

• Continuous Defense Validation – Identifies gaps in detection and response instantly.

• Regulatory Readiness – Generates detailed compliance-ready reports.

• Boardroom Reporting – Converts findings into risk-based metrics executives understand.

• AI-Driven Scaling – Run hundreds of attack campaigns in parallel with automation.
  

Industry Use Cases

• Banking – Testing resilience against financial fraud and insider threats.

• Telecom – Simulating nation-state-level espionage tactics.

• Manufacturing – Assessing supply chain vulnerabilities in operational technology.

• Healthcare – Validating defenses against ransomware targeting critical patient systems.
  

Best Practices for Implementing CART

• Align CART exercises with business-critical assets and crown jewels.

• Map CART simulations to frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK and NIST CSF.

• Integrate CART results into continuous threat exposure management (CTEM).

• Share CART insights across IT, risk, and compliance teams.
  

Conclusion

CART is the evolution of red teaming—designed for a world where threats never stop. By combining automation, AI, and adversary emulation, CART ensures organizations continuously measure and strengthen their defenses. It transforms security testing from a periodic task into an always-on capability.

Stay ahead of attackers with Aquila I’s Continuous Automated Red Teaming (CART). Our AI-driven platform delivers real-time adversary simulations, uncovering vulnerabilities before criminals can exploit them. Explore Aquila I CART and build continuous cyber resilience today.