Minneapolis Network Penetration Testing for IT Managed Services Providers (MSPs)

 

IT Managed Services Providers in Minneapolis and across Minnesota sit at the center of their clients’ technology – and therefore at the center of their risk. When an MSP is compromised, attackers often gain a direct path into dozens of customer networks. Modern cyber threats – including malware, phishing, password attacks, SQL injection, and ransomware – are designed to exploit this trust and access.

The financial impact of a serious breach is significant. In 2021, the median cost of a reported data breach reached $4.24M (source), and that number does not include incidents that never make the headlines. For MSPs supporting regulated industries in Minnesota—such as healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and local government—the real costs also include regulatory exposure, contract loss, and reputational damage.

Network penetration testing (net-pen testing) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security specialists simulate real-world attacks against an MSP’s environment. This includes testing:

• Internal and external networks (headquarters, branch offices, and data centers)
• Client-facing remote access such as VPNs, RMM tools, and cloud management portals
• Active Directory and identity systems commonly used by MSPs to manage multiple tenants

The goal is simple: find and safely exploit vulnerabilities before a real attacker does. For MSP leadership, the results provide clear insight to:

• Validate existing IT security controls and hardening standards
• Prioritize remediation based on realistic attack paths, not theory
• Support compliance efforts (e.g., HIPAA, PCI, CJIS, GLBA, contract and cyber insurance requirements)

 

Network Penetration Testing Experience in Minneapolis and Minnesota

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and IT security assessment services to IT Managed Services Providers and their clients in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota. Our team combines hands-on penetration testing experience with deep knowledge of how MSPs operate day to day—RMM platforms, shared admin credentials, remote support tools, multi-tenant configurations, and vendor integrations.

We routinely work with:

• MSPs and MSSPs serving small and mid-sized businesses across the Twin Cities
• Co-managed IT environments where internal IT teams and MSPs share responsibility
• Cloud-first and hybrid environments using Microsoft 365, Azure, and other major platforms

The result is a practical, business-focused penetration test that not only identifies weaknesses, but also delivers clear, prioritized remediation steps your teams can actually implement—without disrupting client service.

 

Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable penetration testing methodology tailored to MSP environments. While the underlying techniques are highly technical, the approach is straightforward and fully documented so non-technical leaders can understand the risk picture.

Our network penetration tests typically include:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your public presence, exposed services, and MSP-branded infrastructure without touching production systems.
• Active Reconnaissance – Scanning and mapping internal and external networks to identify live hosts, open ports, and potential entry points.
• Social Engineering (where in scope) – Testing how effectively employees and technicians detect and resist phishing, vishing, or other targeted attacks.
• Exploitation – Attempting to safely exploit identified vulnerabilities (misconfigurations, missing patches, weak credentials) to demonstrate real-world impact.
• Post-Exploitation – Assessing what an attacker could do after gaining access: data exposure, control over client environments, and persistence opportunities.
• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to move from standard user access to administrator or domain-level control, especially across multi-tenant MSP setups.
• Lateral Movement – Testing how easily an attacker can move from one system, site, or tenant to another—critical for MSPs managing multiple client networks.
• Maintaining Access – Demonstrating how long-term unauthorized access could be maintained if not detected by your monitoring and response processes.
• Covering Tracks – Reviewing logging and monitoring to determine how easily an attacker could hide activity from your tools and teams.
• Reporting – Delivering a clear, non-technical executive summary plus a detailed technical report with evidence, risk ratings, and prioritized remediation guidance.

Throughout the engagement, we coordinate closely with your leadership and technical teams to ensure testing is safe, authorized, and minimally disruptive to MSP operations and client services.

 

National Reach with Local Focus

 

While based in Minneapolis engagements, OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and ethical hacking services 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 experience allows us to bring best practices from larger markets directly to MSPs in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota, while still accounting for local regulatory, industry, and contractual expectations.

 

Contact Our Minneapolis Network Penetration Testing Team

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to IT Managed Services Providers and their clients in Minneapolis and across Minnesota. If you would like to discuss how a penetration test can strengthen your MSP’s security posture and protect your customer base, please complete the form below and a team member will contact you.