Network Penetration Testing for HR companies in Richmond
Network Penetration Testing for HR Companies in Richmond
HR companies in Richmond and across Virginia handle exactly what cybercriminals want most: resumes, Social Security numbers, payroll data, background checks, benefits information, and medical details. This makes local HR firms, staffing agencies, and recruitment platforms a prime target for ransomware groups, data brokers, and insider threats.
Common attacks against HR environments include phishing emails spoofing candidates or payroll providers, malware delivered through resumes, password attacks on HR portals, SQL injection on applicant tracking systems (ATS), and ransomware against file servers and cloud HR platforms. These attacks are designed to steal or lock down sensitive employee and candidate information.
The financial impact is not hypothetical. In 2021, the median reported cost of a data breach reached $4.24M (source)—and that only reflects incidents that were disclosed. For HR companies operating in Virginia, a serious breach can also trigger legal, contractual, and reputational damage that far exceeds the initial incident cost.
To stay ahead of these threats, regular, independent security assessments are essential. Network penetration testing helps Richmond HR organizations verify that firewalls, VPNs, HR cloud platforms, and internal networks are properly configured and that existing IT security controls actually work under real-world attack conditions.
What Is Network Penetration Testing for HR Firms?
Network penetration testing (or net-pen testing) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security professionals simulate cyberattacks against your HR network, systems, and applications. The goal is straightforward: identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities before real attackers do.
For HR companies in Richmond, this typically includes testing:
HR and payroll systems (on-premises and cloud-based)
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) and recruitment portals
Remote access solutions used by recruiters and HR staff (VPN, RDP, web portals)
File servers and document repositories containing contracts, I-9s, and background checks
Email and collaboration tools used for candidate and employee communication
The results of a penetration test provide HR and executive leadership with:
A clear view of how easily sensitive HR data could be accessed or exfiltrated
Evidence of whether existing security controls, policies, and configurations are effective
Prioritized, practical recommendations to reduce risk and support compliance with state and federal data protection requirements
Virginia Network Penetration Testing Experience
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to HR companies and staffing organizations in Richmond and across Virginia. Our team combines ethical hacking expertise with deep experience in IT risk advisory, cybersecurity consulting, and security assessments for industries that rely heavily on personal and financial data—including HR, professional services, and healthcare.
We understand the realities of HR operations in Richmond: tight hiring timelines, heavy use of third-party SaaS platforms, and constant pressure to process large volumes of candidate data. Our penetration tests are designed to fit those constraints while still delivering a thorough, realistic view of your exposure.
Each engagement results in:
Clear, non-technical explanations for leadership and HR stakeholders
Technical detail for IT and security teams, including proof-of-concept examples
Prioritized remediation guidance focused on what will reduce risk fastest
Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology
OCD Tech follows a proven, repeatable penetration testing methodology that mirrors how real attackers target HR environments, while maintaining strict ethical and legal boundaries. Typical activities include:
Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering public information about your HR brand, domains, email formats, and exposed systems.
Active Reconnaissance – Scanning for open ports, misconfigured services, and outdated software on your internal and external network.
Social Engineering – Where in scope, testing whether employees can be tricked via phishing or pretext calls related to candidates, onboarding, or payroll.
Exploitation – Safely attempting to exploit identified weaknesses to demonstrate what an attacker could actually do.
Post-Exploitation – Assessing how far an attacker could move once inside: accessing HR files, databases, or cloud systems.
Privilege Escalation – Testing whether limited accounts (for recruiters, contractors, or service accounts) can be misused to gain admin-level access.
Lateral Movement – Evaluating how easily an attacker can move between systems—for example, from a compromised workstation to an HR server.
Maintain Access – Demonstrating how attackers might establish persistence if controls and monitoring are weak.
Covering Tracks – Reviewing logging and monitoring to determine whether malicious activity would be detected in a real incident.
Reporting – Delivering a clear, risk-based report with executive summaries, technical detail, and a practical remediation roadmap.
For HR organizations, we pay particular attention to insider threat scenarios, assumed compromise testing, and configuration reviews of HR applications, identity and access management, and remote access tools.
National Reach
While we work extensively with HR companies in Richmond and across Virginia, OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and broader cybersecurity consulting across the United States, including:
Contact Our Richmond Network Penetration Testing Consultants
OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to HR firms, staffing agencies, and recruitment platforms in Richmond and throughout Virginia. If you would like to discuss how a focused penetration test can help protect your HR data and reduce business risk, please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you shortly to review your environment, objectives, and timeline.
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