Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Omaha

 

HR companies in Omaha and across Nebraska handle some of the most sensitive data in any organization: Social Security numbers, payroll details, background checks, medical information, and performance records. This makes HR networks an attractive target for cybercriminals looking to steal or ransom employee data.

Common attacks against HR teams include phishing emails targeting recruiters, malware hidden in resumes, password attacks against HR portals, SQL injections on applicant tracking systems, and ransomware that can shut down payroll and onboarding. The average reported cost of a data breach reached $4.24M in 2021 — and that figure only reflects incidents that were disclosed.

For HR service providers, staffing agencies, and in-house HR departments in Nebraska, a network penetration test is a practical way to understand how an attacker could move through your HR systems, what they could access, and how to stop them before it happens.

 

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 HR IT environment. The goal is simple: find the weaknesses before a criminal does.

For HR companies in Omaha, this typically includes testing:

• HR information systems (HRIS) and payroll platforms
• Applicant tracking systems (ATS) used by recruiters
• Remote access used by recruiters and HR staff working from home
• File shares containing employee records and background checks
• Cloud services used for onboarding, benefits, and document signing

The results give leadership and HR executives clear visibility into actual security gaps, how serious they are, and what to do about them. This supports compliance efforts (such as SOC 2, HIPAA-related HR data, or contractual obligations with clients) and strengthens your overall IT security posture.

 

Omaha & Nebraska Network Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to HR companies in Omaha and across Nebraska, including staffing firms, PEOs, payroll providers, and mid-market HR departments that manage large volumes of employee and candidate data.

Our team combines IT risk advisory, cybersecurity consulting, and hands-on ethical hacking experience. We focus on realistic attack paths that matter for HR, such as:

• An attacker gaining access through a recruiter’s compromised laptop
• Misconfigured VPN or remote desktop access used by HR staff
• Weak segregation between HR networks and the rest of the company
• Cloud misconfigurations exposing HR records to the internet

You receive more than a list of issues. Our reports include clear, prioritized remediation guidance tailored to HR operations, so your internal IT team or external provider can strengthen defenses without disrupting recruiting, payroll, or onboarding.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech uses a structured, repeatable methodology based on recognized cybersecurity frameworks. In plain language, we act like an attacker — but with rules, documentation, and a contract. Key phases include:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your HR environment from public sources to understand what an attacker can learn without touching your systems.
• Active Reconnaissance – Safely scanning your network, HR systems, and exposed services to identify potential entry points.
• Social Engineering – With your approval, testing how susceptible HR and recruiting staff are to phishing and related attacks, which are common entry points for HR breaches.
• Exploitation – Attempting to use identified weaknesses to gain initial access, as a real attacker would.
• Post-Exploitation – Assessing what we can do after access is obtained, such as viewing or moving toward HR databases and file shares.
• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to increase access from a regular user to HR admin or domain admin rights.
• Lateral Movement – Testing how easily an attacker could move from one compromised system to others, including HR servers and applications.
• Maintain Access – Demonstrating how an attacker could quietly keep access if not detected and removed.
• Covering Tracks – Showing how logs and evidence could be altered or removed, highlighting gaps in monitoring and incident response.
• Reporting – Delivering a clear, non-technical executive summary for HR and leadership, plus a detailed technical report with specific remediation steps for IT and security teams.

The entire process is designed to be controlled, documented, and business-friendly, minimizing disruption to your day-to-day HR operations.

 

National Reach with Local Omaha Focus

 

While we work closely with HR organizations in Omaha and across Nebraska, OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and IT security assessments nationwide, including:

• Boston (MA)
• New York City (NY)
• Washington DC
• Philadelphia (PA)
• Dallas (TX)
• Los Angeles (CA)
• Chicago (IL)
• Baltimore (MD)

Our experience across different regulatory environments and industries allows us to bring best practices back to Omaha HR organizations that want to stay ahead of evolving threats.

 

Contact Our Omaha Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies, staffing agencies, payroll providers, and internal HR teams in Omaha and across Nebraska.

If you want to understand how exposed your HR data really is — and what it takes to secure it — complete the form below and a team member will contact you to discuss an appropriate security assessment for your environment.