Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Minneapolis

 

HR and staffing firms in Minneapolis and across Minnesota handle some of the most sensitive data in the business world: Social Security numbers, payroll data, background checks, medical information, and performance reviews. Unfortunately, this also makes HR systems a prime target for cybercriminals.

Common attacks such as phishing against recruiters, ransomware on HRIS/ATS platforms, password attacks on remote access, and SQL injection against candidate portals are all designed to steal or lock up this data. The median cost of a data breach in 2021 was $4.24M per incident – and that only reflects breaches that were publicly reported. For HR providers, the real impact also includes loss of client trust, damage to employer brand, and potential non-compliance with state and federal regulations.

To stay ahead of these threats, HR organizations in Minneapolis need to regularly review, test, and upgrade their cybersecurity controls – especially around cloud-based HR platforms, remote recruiters, and third-party integrations.

Network penetration testing (often called a pentest) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security professionals simulate real-world attacks against your IT environment. For HR companies, this typically includes testing:

• HRIS, payroll, and benefits systems
• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and candidate portals
• Remote access used by recruiters and HR staff (VPN, RDP, cloud consoles)
• Email and collaboration tools commonly abused for phishing and insider threats
• Cloud environments and integrations with background check, payroll, and benefits providers

The outcome is a clear, prioritized view of where your defenses are weak, how an attacker could move through your network, and what must be fixed to protect HR data and comply with contractual, legal, and privacy requirements.

 

Minneapolis Network Penetration Testing Experience for HR Firms

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to HR and staffing companies in Minneapolis and across Minnesota, from local recruiting agencies to regional and multi-state HR service providers.

Our team combines technical expertise with practical experience in HR environments, including:

• Cloud-based HRIS and payroll platforms
• Talent management, onboarding, and background screening systems
• Hybrid environments with offices in Minneapolis and distributed recruiters
• Compliance-driven environments handling regulated and highly confidential data

We don’t just run tools and hand you a report. Our IT security assessment approach focuses on realistic attack paths an adversary would use against an HR organization. The result is a penetration test that:

• Identifies specific weaknesses in your HR and corporate network
• Demonstrates real business impact (e.g., “an attacker could access payroll data for all employees”)
• Provides clear, actionable remediation steps prioritized by risk and effort
• Helps validate your existing controls, monitoring, and incident response capability

 

Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable penetration testing methodology designed to mirror real-world attack behavior while remaining controlled and business-friendly. For HR companies in Minneapolis, this methodology is tailored to focus on data privacy, uptime of HR operations, and regulatory expectations.

Our typical network penetration test includes:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your domains, HR platforms, exposed services, and public-facing assets without direct interaction.
• Active Reconnaissance – Scanning and mapping your external and/or internal network to identify live systems, open ports, and HR-related applications.
• Social Engineering – With your approval, testing how easily recruiters or HR staff might be tricked by phishing or pretexting attacks.
• Exploitation – Attempting to leverage identified weaknesses (e.g., misconfigurations, outdated software, weak credentials) to gain access, while keeping risk controlled.
• Post-Exploitation – Assessing how far an attacker could go once inside, including potential access to HR databases, payroll files, or candidate records.
• Privilege Escalation – Testing whether an attacker could move from a basic account to HR admin, domain admin, or cloud administrator roles.
• Lateral Movement – Evaluating how easily an intruder could pivot between systems, such as from email to HRIS, ATS, or file shares with confidential HR data.
• Maintaining Access – Demonstrating how attackers could create backdoors or persistent access, which is then fully documented and removed.
• Covering Tracks – Showing whether your logging and monitoring would detect or miss key attacker activities.
• Reporting – Delivering a concise, business-focused report with technical detail for IT, including:
  • Executive summary for HR and leadership
  • Prioritized list of findings and risks
  • Root-cause analysis and configuration review where relevant
  • Clear remediation guidance and validation recommendations

 

National Reach with Local Focus

 

While we have a strong local presence for Minneapolis HR organizations, OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and broader 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 reach is particularly valuable for HR companies headquartered in Minneapolis that also operate branch offices, recruiting hubs, or clients in other states.

 

Contact Our Minneapolis Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies, staffing agencies, and corporate HR departments in Minneapolis and across Minnesota.

If you want to understand how a real attacker would target your HR systems—and what you need to do to stop them—complete the form below and a consultant will follow up with you shortly.