Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Des Moines (IA)

 

HR firms in Des Moines and across Iowa handle exactly what cybercriminals want most: personal and confidential employee data. Candidate records, background checks, payroll data, benefits information, Social Security numbers, health-related details, and internal HR communications are all prime targets for attackers. Threats such as phishing, ransomware, password attacks, malware, and SQL injection are routinely used to gain access to this information and disrupt operations.

The financial impact of a data breach is substantial. In 2021, the median reported cost of a breach reached $4.24M per incident—and that figure only reflects voluntarily reported cases. For HR organizations, the true cost also includes loss of client trust, regulatory penalties, contract terminations, and reputational damage, especially when you support large employers across Iowa and the Midwest.

To stay ahead of these threats, HR companies need to regularly test, review, and improve their cybersecurity controls. This is where network penetration testing (net-pen testing) becomes critical.

 

What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Firms?

 

Network penetration testing is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security specialists simulate real-world cyberattacks against your IT infrastructure, cloud services, and internal HR systems. The goal is simple: find and safely exploit weaknesses before a criminal does.

For HR companies in Des Moines, this typically covers:

• HRIS / HCM platforms (on-premise or cloud-based)
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruiting portals
• Payroll and benefits systems, including third-party integrations
• Remote access solutions used by recruiters and HR staff
• Email and collaboration tools often targeted by phishing
• File shares and document repositories for employee records

The outcome of a penetration test gives leadership a clear, non-technical view of:

• Where attackers are most likely to get in
• What data they could access or encrypt
• How effective your current IT security controls really are
• Which improvements will most reduce risk for your HR clients and employees

This also supports compliance and contractual obligations you may have with enterprise clients, insurers, and regulators regarding security assessments and ongoing risk management.

 

Iowa Network Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and IT security assessments to companies in Des Moines and across Iowa, including HR service providers, staffing agencies, payroll processors, benefits administrators, and in-house HR departments supporting large employers.

Our team combines practical red team experience (simulating attackers) with defensive blue team knowledge (understanding how to detect and respond). This allows us to:

• Design tests aligned with HR-specific risks, such as exposure of candidate and employee data
• Evaluate insider threat and assumed compromise scenarios relevant to HR staff access
• Assess configuration security of your HRIS, remote access, and authentication controls
• Provide clear, prioritized remediation guidance for both technical and non-technical leaders

The result is a focused, actionable security assessment that does more than list vulnerabilities—it explains what they mean for your HR operations in Des Moines and how to fix them in a practical way.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech uses a structured, repeatable methodology to test your defenses from the perspective of a real attacker, while maintaining strict control and safety. Our approach typically includes:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your HR systems, domains, and public-facing infrastructure without direct interaction.
• Active Reconnaissance – Safely probing your network, VPNs, cloud services, and web applications (such as ATS and HR portals) to identify live targets and open doors.
• Social Engineering – Testing how well HR and recruiting staff can identify phishing and fraudulent requests, given their frequent contact with external candidates and vendors.
• Exploitation – Attempting to exploit identified weaknesses (vulnerable services, misconfigurations, weak passwords) to gain initial access.
• Post-Exploitation – Determining what an attacker could realistically do once inside, such as viewing or exfiltrating employee or applicant data.
• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to gain higher-level access, for example moving from a standard user to an HR administrator with broader control.
• Lateral Movement – Testing whether an attacker can move from one compromised system to others, such as from email to HRIS or payroll.
• Maintaining Access – Evaluating how easily an attacker could maintain a hidden foothold in your environment.
• Covering Tracks – Assessing how well your logging and monitoring would detect or miss malicious activity.
• Reporting – Delivering a clear, executive-friendly report that includes technical details, business impact, and prioritized remediation steps tailored to your HR environment.

Throughout the engagement, we coordinate closely with your internal IT, security, or external managed service provider to ensure testing is controlled, safe, and aligned with your business operations.

 

National Reach

 

While we support many organizations in Des Moines and across Iowa, OCD Tech also delivers network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting to clients across the U.S., including:

• Boston (MA)
• New York City (NY)
• Washington DC
• Philadelphia (PA)
• Dallas (TX)
• Los Angeles (CA)
• Chicago (IL)
• Baltimore (MD)

 

Contact Our Iowa Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies and HR departments in Des Moines and across Iowa. If you would like to discuss how a tailored penetration test can help protect your HR data, meet client expectations, and strengthen your overall IT security posture, please complete the form below and a team member will follow up with you shortly.