> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.lakera.ai/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.lakera.ai/_mcp/server.

# Targets Overview

A **target** is the system you want to test—either a foundational model you connect to
directly, or your own agent endpoint.

## Choose the right target type

### Model

Use [**Model**](/docs/red/connect-to-a-model) to quickly test a foundation model
directly, with an optional system prompt. No endpoint is required on your side.

### Agent

Use [**Agent**](/docs/red/connect-to-your-agent) to test your own agent endpoint.

## Create a target

Creating a target has three parts: connect to the system, optionally share what you
already know about it, and review the profile Red builds.

#### Connect your target

Go to **[Create target](https://red.lakera.ai/targets/create)** (or **Targets** →
**New Target** in the sidebar). Enter a **Target name**, choose **Model** or
**Agent**, and complete the connection. For the exact fields, follow the dedicated
guides: [**Model**](/docs/red/connect-to-a-model) or
[**Agent**](/docs/red/connect-to-your-agent). For Agent targets, Red verifies the
connection when you continue.

#### Share what you know (optional)

Optionally provide the target's ground-truth system prompt, tool definitions, and
custom refusal phrases. Red verifies what you declare and discovers the rest—the
more you share, the sharper the profiling. Click **Continue** to create the target
and start profiling.

#### Review the profile

Red explores the target and builds a **profile**. Review and edit it, then continue.
See [Review the profile](#review-the-profile) below.

## Review the profile

After the target is created, Red probes it and populates a profile you review once. This
profile is stored on the target and reused for every scan against it.

The profile has two parts:

1. **Target Summary** - what the system is and who it serves, plus any ground-truth
   system prompt or tool definitions you provided.
2. **Behavioral rules** - the target's allowed and forbidden actions.

Fields populate as each probe finishes; you can edit any of them. When the profile is
ready, click **Go to target** to open the target, or **Run your first scan** to go
straight to a scan. Both remain disabled until profiling finishes so the profile isn't
saved half-complete.

> **Note**
>
> Profiling is only available for Model and Agent targets. SDK targets are profiled from
> the SDK, not the platform UI.

## The target page

An existing target opens to three tabs:

1. **Scans** - scans run against this target, and the entry point to launch a new one.
2. **Profile** - the summary and behavioral rules Red built. Edit any field inline; if a
   target has no profile yet, use **Build profile** to run profiling.
3. **Connection** - the endpoint, authentication, and conversation-handling
   configuration. Use **Edit** to change how Red connects.