Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Detroit (MI)

 

HR organizations in Detroit and across Michigan handle some of the most sensitive data in the business: employee records, background checks, payroll details, benefits information, and sometimes medical or union-related data. This makes HR firms and in‑house HR departments a prime target for ransomware gangs, data brokers, and insider threats.

Common attacks in Michigan include phishing against HR staff (fake resumes, fake DocuSign offers, fraudulent W‑2 and payroll change requests), malware delivered via candidate CVs, password attacks, and exploitation of VPNs, HR portals, ATS platforms, and payroll integrations. All of these are designed to gain access to internal HR systems and exfiltrate data at scale.

The cost of a breach is not limited to incident response and downtime. For HR companies and employers in the Detroit area, it also means regulatory exposure, lawsuits from affected employees, loss of client trust, and long-term brand damage. A 2021 report estimated the average cost of a data breach at $4.24M (source)—and that only reflects reported incidents.

To keep pace with evolving threats, HR organizations need to regularly test, validate, and upgrade their cybersecurity controls rather than trusting that existing firewalls and antivirus “should be enough.” That is exactly what network penetration testing is for.

 

What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Firms?

 

Network penetration testing (net‑pen testing) is a controlled, simulated cyberattack against your IT environment, conducted by ethical hackers. The objective is straightforward: find and exploit security weaknesses before real attackers do.

For HR companies in Detroit, this typically includes testing:

• Corporate networks and office infrastructure used by recruiters, HR managers, and payroll staff
• Remote access and VPNs for hybrid or work‑from‑home teams across Michigan
• HR systems and SaaS platforms such as ATS, payroll, onboarding, time‑tracking, and benefits portals
• File shares and document repositories holding résumés, IDs, contracts, background checks, and performance records
• Email and collaboration tools frequently targeted for payroll fraud and W‑2 scams

The outcome of a penetration test is a clear, prioritized view of your real-world security risk—not just a list of theoretical issues. Leadership and HR management gain the information they need to:

• Reduce the likelihood of a data breach affecting employee or candidate information
• Verify that existing security controls actually work under attack conditions
• Support compliance efforts with requirements related to privacy, data protection, and vendor due diligence

 

Detroit & Michigan Network Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and IT security assessments to HR companies and HR departments in Detroit, the broader Metro Detroit area, and across Michigan, including organizations in automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and staffing.

Our team combines hands‑on ethical hacking experience with a strong understanding of HR business processes and local regulatory expectations. We routinely assess environments that include:

• Third‑party HR and payroll providers, staffing agencies, and recruiting firms
• In‑house HR functions within mid‑market and enterprise organizations
• Cloud‑hosted HR platforms integrated with Active Directory and internal networks

The result is not just a list of vulnerabilities, but actionable guidance aligned with HR operations—what an attacker could actually do with a given weakness, which systems and data are at risk, and how to remediate efficiently without disrupting hiring, onboarding, or payroll cycles.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable penetration testing methodology that mirrors how real attackers work, while maintaining full control and safety for your environment. Key phases typically include:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your HR and corporate network from public sources to understand your exposure.
• Active Reconnaissance – Scanning and mapping internal and external systems, HR applications, and remote access points.
• Social Engineering – With prior approval, testing how well staff detect and resist phishing attempts commonly aimed at HR (e.g., fake résumés, payroll change requests).
• Exploitation – Attempting to exploit identified weaknesses to gain access, using real‑world attack techniques in a controlled manner.
• Post‑Exploitation – Determining the scope of potential damage: what HR or employee data an attacker could access, modify, or exfiltrate.
• Privilege Escalation – Evaluating whether an attacker can move from a low‑level account (e.g., a single recruiter) to higher‑value HR or domain administrator access.
• Lateral Movement – Testing how easily an attacker could traverse from one compromised system to others, such as from an HR user’s laptop to file servers or payroll systems.
• Maintain Access – Assessing how an attacker might persist in the network unnoticed to perform long‑term data theft or surveillance.
• Covering Tracks – Reviewing logging and monitoring to determine whether such attacks would be detected by your current security operations.
• Reporting – Delivering a clear report and executive summary, including risk‑ranked findings, business impact to HR operations, and practical remediation steps.

Throughout the assessment, we coordinate closely with your internal IT, security, and HR leadership to ensure that testing is safe, authorized, and aligned with your business schedule—for example, avoiding critical payroll or open enrollment periods.

 

National Reach

 

While we maintain a strong presence in Detroit and Michigan, OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting across the U.S., including:

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

This national perspective allows us to bring best practices from HR security engagements across multiple states and industries back to Detroit‑based clients.

 

Contact Our Detroit Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, ethical hacking, and cybersecurity consulting tailored to HR organizations in Detroit and throughout Michigan. If you would like to discuss how a penetration test can help protect your HR data, assess your IT security posture, or satisfy client and regulatory requirements, complete the form below and a member of our team will follow up with you shortly.