Network Penetration Testing for HR companies in Philadelphia (PA)
Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Philadelphia (PA)
HR companies in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania handle some of the most sensitive data in business: Social Security numbers, payroll details, medical information, background checks, and performance records. This makes HR firms a prime target for cybercriminals, insider threats, and fraudsters looking to monetize or abuse employee data.
Common cyberattacks such as phishing, malware, password attacks, SQL injections, and ransomware are routinely used to break into HR systems, Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), payroll platforms, and cloud-based HR portals. In 2021, the median reported cost of a data breach reached $4.24 million—and that only includes incidents that were disclosed. For many HR providers, a single breach could mean regulatory fines, lawsuits from impacted employees, and permanent damage to brand trust.
To avoid becoming the next headline, HR organizations in the Greater Philadelphia area need to regularly test, validate, and improve their cybersecurity controls—not just install tools and hope for the best.
What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Firms?
Network penetration testing (often called “pentesting”) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise in which security professionals simulate real-world attacks against your HR network, systems, and applications. The goal is simple: find and exploit vulnerabilities before a criminal does.
For HR companies, this often includes testing:
Internet-facing HR portals and self-service employee platforms
VPN access and remote work infrastructure used by recruiters and HR staff
Connectivity between ATS, payroll, benefits, and background check systems
On-premises servers in Philadelphia offices and cloud environments hosting HR data
The results of a penetration test give leadership a clear, non-technical view of:
How easily an attacker could access sensitive employee data
Which weaknesses pose the highest business and compliance risk
Whether current security controls work as expected in a real attack scenario
What should be fixed first to reduce risk in a measurable way
For HR companies operating in Pennsylvania, this type of IT security assessment also supports alignment with regulatory and contractual obligations (for example, requirements from enterprise clients, audit expectations, and state-level privacy laws).
Pennsylvania Network Penetration Testing Experience for HR Organizations
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to HR companies and HR service providers in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. Our team has extensive experience in:
Staffing and recruiting firms handling high volumes of applicant data
PEO (Professional Employer Organization) and payroll providers
Benefits administration and HR outsourcing companies
In-house HR departments of mid-sized and large employers
We combine hands-on ethical hacking expertise with a strong understanding of HR business processes. That means your test is not just “technical noise”: you receive a clear mapping of vulnerabilities to real HR risks—for example, “this issue allows access to payroll data” or “this misconfiguration could expose background check reports.”
The outcome is a practical, prioritized remediation plan that helps your team strengthen defenses without disrupting day-to-day HR operations.
Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology
OCD Tech uses a structured and repeatable penetration testing methodology tailored to HR environments. While the technical work is complex, the process is straightforward:
Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gather information about your HR infrastructure, domains, and exposed services without touching internal systems.
Active Reconnaissance – Systematically map networks, HR portals, VPNs, and cloud services to identify potential entry points.
Social Engineering – With your permission, test how susceptible staff are to targeted phishing (for example, fake candidate emails or HR system alerts) to evaluate human risk.
Exploitation – Attempt to exploit discovered weaknesses—such as unpatched systems, weak configurations, or insecure web applications—to gain initial access.
Post-Exploitation – Determine what an attacker could actually do: access HR databases, download payroll files, or move into other connected systems.
Privilege Escalation – Try to gain higher-level access (for example, HR admin or domain admin) that would allow full control of HR infrastructure.
Lateral Movement – Simulate an assumed compromise scenario and see how far an attacker could move across your environment from a single compromised system or account.
Maintain Access – Identify ways an attacker could quietly remain in your network over time, even if passwords are changed or systems are rebooted.
Cover Tracks – Assess how easily an attacker could hide their activity and whether your monitoring and logging would detect it.
Reporting – Deliver a clear, executive-friendly report and a technical remediation guide, including risk ratings, business impact for HR operations, and concrete next steps.
This methodology supports both traditional red team style testing (simulating an external attacker) and collaborative purple team exercises where your internal IT or security team learns in real time how to detect and respond to attacks.
National Reach with Local Focus on Philadelphia HR Companies
While we have a strong local presence serving HR organizations in Philadelphia (PA), OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting across the U.S., including:
Wherever your HR operations or data centers are located, we can deliver a consistent, high-quality security assessment aligned with your internal standards and your clients’ expectations.
Contact Our Philadelphia Network Penetration Testing Consultants
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting to HR companies and HR departments in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. If you would like to discuss how a tailored penetration test can help protect your employee and applicant data, complete the form below and a member of our team will contact you shortly.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)