Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Los Angeles (CA)

 

HR companies in Los Angeles and across California handle exactly what cybercriminals want most: large volumes of employee records, payroll data, background checks, benefits information, and sometimes medical or immigration details. Threat actors know that a single compromise of an HR platform, ATS, or payroll integration can expose thousands of employees at once.

Modern attacks against HR and staffing firms range from phishing and social engineering targeting recruiters, to ransomware, password attacks, misconfigured VPNs, and cloud breaches. According to industry reports, the average reported cost of a data breach in 2021 reached $4.24M (source)—and that figure does not include unreported incidents or reputational damage when candidate and employee trust is lost.

For HR organizations in Southern California operating in a highly regulated environment (California privacy laws, multi-state payroll, background screening regulations), regular, independent security testing is no longer optional. It is a direct control to protect sensitive personal data, maintain client contracts, and satisfy insurance and audit requirements.

 

What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Organizations?

 

Network penetration testing (often called a pentest) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security professionals simulate real-world cyberattacks against your internal and external networks, cloud environments, and critical HR systems.

For HR companies in Los Angeles, this typically includes:

• HRIS / HCM platforms and their integrations
• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and vendor portals
• Remote access for recruiters and HR staff (VPN, RDP, SSO)
• Payroll and benefits integrations with third parties
• Cloud services (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HR SaaS tools)

The objective is simple: identify how an attacker could get in, what they could reach, and how to stop them—before a real incident occurs. The results help leadership:

• Prioritize security investments based on real, tested risk
• Validate controls required by clients, insurers, and auditors
• Reduce insider threat and assumed compromise impact by hardening internal access paths

 

California & Los Angeles Network Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and IT security assessment services to HR companies and HR tech providers in Los Angeles and across California. Our consultants have extensive experience working with:

• HR outsourcing and PEO firms
• Staffing and recruiting agencies
• Payroll and benefits administrators
• Background check and screening providers

We combine hands-on penetration testing with practical understanding of HR operations, including high contractor turnover, extensive third-party access, and a largely remote or hybrid workforce across the LA area. This allows us to:

• Test like an attacker (Red Team mindset) but explain results in business language
• Identify weaknesses in network configuration, access control, and vendor connectivity
• Deliver clear, prioritized remediation guidance that HR and IT teams can act on quickly

The outcome is a focused security assessment that exposes real weaknesses and provides specific, actionable steps to strengthen your HR environment.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech uses a structured, repeatable methodology aligned with industry best practices. Each engagement is tailored to your HR environment but generally includes:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your HR infrastructure, domains, cloud services, and exposed systems without direct interaction.
• Active Reconnaissance – Safely scanning and probing networks and applications to identify live systems, open ports, and potential entry points.
• Social Engineering (where in scope) – Testing how easily attackers could trick staff, recruiters, or contractors into granting access or revealing credentials.
• Exploitation – Attempting controlled exploitation of identified vulnerabilities to demonstrate actual risk to HR data.
• Post-Exploitation – Assessing how far an attacker could move within your environment once inside, especially toward HRIS, ATS, and file shares with employee data.
• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to gain higher levels of access (e.g., domain admin, HR platform admin) from a normal user account.
• Lateral Movement – Testing whether compromise of one workstation or account could lead to others, including shared HR and finance systems.
• Maintain Access – Demonstrating how an attacker could persist in your network if not detected, while documenting all actions for full transparency.
• Covering Tracks – Evaluating logging and monitoring; determining whether your Blue Team or SOC would realistically detect the attack.
• Reporting & Executive Briefing – Providing a clear report with business-friendly summaries for HR leadership and detailed technical guidance for IT.

This approach supports Red Team-style testing where needed, while helping your internal teams improve their Blue Team detection and response. Together, this creates a more effective Purple Team style collaboration and a stronger overall security posture.

 

National Reach, Local LA Focus

 

While OCD Tech works with clients across the U.S.—including Boston (MA), New York City (NY), Washington DC, Philadelphia (PA), Dallas (TX), Los Angeles (CA), Chicago (IL), and Baltimore (MD)—we understand the specific pressures facing Los Angeles HR companies, including regional competition for talent, complex vendor ecosystems, and California’s evolving privacy landscape.

 

Contact Our Los Angeles Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies and related organizations in Los Angeles and across California. If you would like to discuss how a targeted network penetration test can help protect your employee and candidate data, reduce breach risk, and support compliance requirements, please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to review your environment, scope, and next steps.