AD-RTS Exam Prep & Study Resources

The Active Directory Red Team Specialist (AD RTS) is offered by Altered Security and focuses exclusively on Active Directory attack techniques. It provides deep, specialized knowledge for compromising and exploiting AD environments during red team engagements.

The AD RTS covers AD enumeration, Kerberos attacks, delegation abuse, trust exploitation, Group Policy attacks, and advanced persistence techniques. It provides comprehensive coverage of the attack surface present in Active Directory environments.

The AD RTS is a specialized certification that dives deeper into Active Directory red team techniques compared to the CRTP. It covers more advanced scenarios and attack chains specific to complex AD deployments with multiple forests and trusts.

The AD RTS exam is entirely hands-on, requiring candidates to compromise an Active Directory lab environment. Candidates must demonstrate their ability to enumerate, exploit, and escalate privileges across the AD infrastructure within the exam timeframe.

The AD RTS is ideal for penetration testers and red team operators who frequently encounter Active Directory in their engagements. It is also valuable for security professionals who want to specialize in AD security assessment and exploitation.

Candidates should have a solid understanding of Active Directory fundamentals, Windows security, and basic penetration testing skills. Prior completion of the CRTP or equivalent AD experience is recommended before pursuing the AD RTS.

The course covers a range of AD-focused tools including BloodHound, PowerView, Rubeus, Mimikatz, and Impacket. Candidates learn when and how to use each tool effectively for different AD attack scenarios.

The course duration varies based on individual pace, but most candidates complete the material in several weeks. Extensive lab practice is recommended to build the hands-on proficiency needed for the practical exam.

While the primary focus is offensive, the course provides insight into detection mechanisms and defensive controls. Understanding these defenses helps red team operators develop more effective and stealthy attack strategies during engagements.

The AD RTS is highly valued for roles involving Active Directory security testing, which is a core component of most enterprise environments. Specializing in AD attacks makes you particularly valuable for internal red team and consulting positions.