Network Penetration Testing for HR companies in Hartford (CT)
Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Hartford, CT
HR organizations in Hartford and across Connecticut handle some of the most sensitive data in the state—employee records, Social Security numbers, payroll details, health information, background checks, and immigration documents. This makes HR providers an attractive target for cybercriminals looking to monetize stolen data or disrupt critical HR operations such as payroll and benefits administration.
Common attack methods include phishing emails to HR inboxes, malware-laced resumes, password attacks on remote access portals, and exploits against HR platforms and databases. These are not theoretical risks. The average cost of a data breach in 2021 exceeded $4.24M according to industry research (source), and that figure only reflects breaches that were reported. For HR companies operating in the Hartford area, a single incident can trigger regulatory investigations, lawsuits, contract losses, and long-term reputational damage.
To stay ahead of these threats, HR organizations need to regularly test, validate, and improve their cybersecurity controls. That is where structured network penetration testing comes in.
What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Firms?
Network penetration testing (net-pen testing) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security specialists simulate real-world cyberattacks against your HR IT environment. The objective is to identify vulnerabilities before criminals do and to demonstrate how far an attacker could actually go—from initial access all the way to payroll systems, HRIS platforms, or cloud-based HR applications.
For HR companies in Hartford, a penetration test typically focuses on:
External infrastructure – Internet-facing HR portals, VPNs, web applications, and cloud services used for recruiting, onboarding, and employee self-service.
Internal network – Domain controllers, file servers storing personnel records, timekeeping systems, and integrations with payroll and benefits providers.
User behavior and processes – How HR staff respond to phishing, social engineering, and credential-harvesting attempts.
The results give leadership a clear, non-technical view of actual business risk: what can be breached, how quickly, and what must be fixed to protect sensitive HR data and maintain compliance with applicable regulations and client security requirements.
Hartford & Connecticut Penetration Testing Experience
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and IT security assessments to HR companies and professional services organizations in Hartford and throughout Connecticut. Our team combines deep technical skills with practical experience working with:
HR service providers and staffing agencies
PEO and payroll companies
In-house HR departments at mid-market and enterprise organizations
We understand the specific risks around HR data, insider threats, and third-party system integrations. Each penetration test is aligned to your business reality: how you recruit, onboard, pay, and manage employees across Connecticut and beyond.
After the assessment, you receive clear, prioritized remediation guidance—not just a list of vulnerabilities. We explain what an attacker could do, how it affects your HR operations, and the most effective steps to harden your environment, whether that is configuration review, access control changes, network segmentation, or enhanced monitoring.
Network Penetration Testing Methodology
OCD Tech uses a structured, repeatable testing methodology that mirrors the tactics of real attackers while maintaining strict rules of engagement to protect your production HR systems. A typical engagement includes:
Passive reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your company, HR domains, exposed services, and employee details from public sources.
Active reconnaissance – Scanning and probing your external and internal network to identify live systems, open ports, and potential entry points.
Social engineering – Testing how HR and related staff respond to phishing and other manipulation attempts, always within agreed boundaries.
Exploitation – Attempting to safely exploit identified vulnerabilities to demonstrate real-world impact on your HR infrastructure.
Post-exploitation – Assessing what an attacker could access after the initial breach, such as HR databases, file shares, or email.
Privilege escalation – Attempting to gain higher permissions, such as domain admin or full access to HR platforms.
Lateral movement – Moving through the network to reach high-value assets like payroll, benefits, or personnel record systems.
Maintaining access – Demonstrating how attackers could persist in your environment undetected, while keeping your systems stable and secure.
Covering tracks – Showing how real attackers would hide their activity, and what logging and monitoring improvements are needed.
Reporting & executive briefing – Delivering a clear report and walkthrough tailored to both technical teams and non-technical HR leadership, with prioritized next steps.
This approach provides a realistic view of your security posture and supports collaboration between your internal IT team (Blue Team) and external testers (Red Team), effectively creating a Purple Team-style improvement cycle.
National Reach with Local Focus
While we maintain a strong presence in the Hartford, CT market, OCD Tech delivers network penetration testing and security assessments to HR and professional services companies across the U.S., including:
For HR organizations operating across multiple states, this allows for consistent, centralized security testing while still accounting for local operations in Hartford and the wider Connecticut region.
Contact Our Hartford Network Penetration Testing Team
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies and other organizations in Hartford and throughout Connecticut. If you would like to discuss a penetration test targeting your HR infrastructure, applications, and data, please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to review your environment, objectives, and timeline.
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