Network Penetration Testing for HR companies in Memphis (TN)
Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Memphis (TN)
HR and staffing companies in Memphis and across Tennessee are a prime target for cybercriminals. You hold exactly what attackers want most: large volumes of personally identifiable information (PII), payroll data, background checks, Social Security numbers, and healthcare enrollment records for employees and candidates across the Mid-South.
Threat actors use malware, phishing emails, password attacks, SQL injection, and ransomware to get into HR systems, cloud platforms, applicant tracking systems (ATS), and payroll portals. Once inside, they can quietly copy data, alter records, or shut down operations at the worst possible time—like during open enrollment or a high‑volume hiring push.
According to industry research, the average reported cost of a data breach in 2021 reached $4.24M (source). That figure does not include unreported incidents, so the real impact is likely higher—especially when you factor in lost clients, legal exposure, and damage to your firm’s reputation in the Memphis business community.
To stay ahead of these threats, HR organizations need to regularly review, test, and upgrade their cybersecurity controls—not just rely on firewalls and antivirus software. This is where network penetration testing becomes essential.
What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Organizations?
Network penetration testing (net-pen testing) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security specialists simulate real-world cyberattacks against your IT environment. For HR firms in Memphis, that environment typically includes:
HRIS and payroll systems (on-premises or cloud-based)
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruiting platforms
Remote access for recruiters and HR staff, including VPNs and cloud apps
Email and collaboration tools used for resumes, offers, and onboarding
File servers and document management systems holding employee records
The goal is to identify security weaknesses before criminals do. A well‑executed penetration test helps HR leadership and IT teams to:
Understand how an attacker could move from a simple phishing email to full access to HR or payroll systems
Validate the effectiveness of existing IT security controls and monitoring tools
Reduce insider threat and assumed-compromise risk by testing what happens if an attacker starts with valid user credentials
Support compliance requirements around safeguarding employee and candidate data
For HR companies working with employers across Tennessee and neighboring states, regular penetration testing is not a luxury—it is a core part of responsible HR data protection.
Network Penetration Testing Experience in Tennessee
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to HR, staffing, and professional services firms in Memphis and across Tennessee. Our team brings a combination of:
Practical penetration testing and red team experience against real production environments
IT risk advisory and security assessment expertise tailored to HR workflows and systems
Understanding of HR operations—from recruiting and onboarding to benefits, payroll, and offboarding
We focus on providing not just a list of vulnerabilities, but a clear, prioritized remediation plan your leadership and IT providers can actually execute. Our reports translate complex technical findings into plain language for executives and HR leaders, while still giving enough detail for your internal IT team or managed service provider to fix the issues.
The result is a penetration test that exposes real-world attack paths—for example, how a single compromised recruiter mailbox could lead to unauthorized access to ATS, HRIS, and payroll—and offers pragmatic, cost‑effective steps to reduce that risk.
Network Penetration Testing Methodology
OCD Tech follows a structured and repeatable testing methodology designed to mirror how attackers operate, while maintaining strict rules of engagement to protect your HR operations. Our approach typically includes:
Passive reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your HR and corporate environment from public sources to understand your digital footprint in Memphis and beyond.
Active reconnaissance – Safely scanning your network and cloud services to identify live systems, exposed services, and potential entry points.
Social engineering (when in scope) – Testing how well HR and recruiting staff can detect phishing or fraudulent requests, without disrupting day‑to‑day operations.
Exploitation – Attempting to leverage discovered weaknesses to gain access—such as outdated VPNs, misconfigured cloud services, or weak passwords.
Post‑exploitation – Assessing what an attacker could actually do after gaining a foothold: view resumes, change payroll data, or exfiltrate employee records.
Privilege escalation – Testing whether an attacker can move from a basic account to HR admin or domain admin levels.
Lateral movement – Examining how easily an intruder could pivot from one system (for example, email) to others (ATS, HRIS, file shares).
Maintaining access – Determining whether attackers could quietly maintain ongoing access to your HR environment.
Covering tracks – Evaluating whether your logging and monitoring would detect suspicious behavior or if activity could go unnoticed.
Reporting and executive debrief – Delivering a clear report with technical details, risk ratings, and remediation guidance—plus an executive‑level summary focused on business impact for HR and leadership teams.
This depth of testing provides a realistic view of your IT security posture and helps align HR operations, IT, and leadership around a practical improvement plan.
National Reach
While we work closely with HR organizations in the Memphis area and throughout Tennessee, OCD Tech also delivers network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting across the U.S., including:
This broader perspective allows us to bring best practices from HR and staffing clients nationwide back to Memphis organizations that want to compete—and protect data—at a national level.
Contact Our Memphis Network Penetration Testing Consultants
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies, staffing agencies, and professional services organizations in Memphis and across Tennessee.
If you would like to discuss how a focused penetration test can help protect your employee and candidate data, reduce the risk of HR system compromise, and strengthen your overall IT security posture, please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to review your environment, timelines, and objectives.
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