Network Penetration Testing for MSPs in Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Managed Services Providers (MSPs) in Salt Lake City and across Utah are prime targets for cybercriminals. By supporting multiple client environments, a single compromised MSP can provide attackers with access to dozens of networks, sensitive data sets, and critical business systems.

Threats such as malware, phishing, password attacks, SQL injection, and ransomware are routinely used to gain unauthorized access to client data, backup environments, RMM tools, and cloud services. The financial impact of a data breach is severe—global studies report a median cost per breach of $4.24M in 2021 (source)—and this does not account for many incidents that are never publicly disclosed.

For MSPs, the stakes are even higher: a single incident can damage client trust, trigger contract terminations, and raise serious regulatory and compliance concerns. To reduce this risk, IT security controls must be tested regularly, not just documented. This is where network penetration testing becomes essential.

Network penetration testing (often called net-pen testing or simply a pentest) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security professionals simulate real-world cyberattacks against your MSP infrastructure. The goal is to identify and safely exploit vulnerabilities before a malicious attacker does. For MSPs in Utah, this typically includes assessment of:

• Internal and external networks (offices, data centers, and hosted environments)

• Client-facing services (VPNs, portals, and remote support tools)

• RMM, PSA, backup, and remote access platforms that could be used to pivot into client systems

The results of a professional penetration test help MSP leadership to:

• Understand real security risk beyond checkbox compliance

• Validate current IT security controls and monitoring capabilities (Blue Team)

• Plan remediation and investment based on actual attack paths and business impact

• Support regulatory and client requirements for ongoing security assessment

 

Utah Network Penetration Testing Experience for MSPs

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services tailored to Managed Services Providers in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah. We understand the specific risks MSPs face, including:

• Compromise of centralized RMM and management tools

• Abuse of privileged accounts and domain admin access

• Lateral movement from MSP infrastructure into client networks

• Insider threat and assumed-compromise scenarios within support teams

Our team combines IT risk advisory, cybersecurity consulting, and hands-on ethical hacking experience across multiple industries and regulated environments. For Utah-based MSPs, this means you receive a penetration test that is:

• Realistic – aligned with the attack techniques currently used against MSPs

• Actionable – focused on specific security gaps, not generic theory

• Business-focused – mapped to client impact, SLAs, and contractual obligations

Every engagement includes clear reporting, prioritized remediation guidance, and, where appropriate, recommendations for configuration review, segmentation, logging, and incident response improvements.

 

Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable penetration testing methodology designed to mirror real-world attack behavior while remaining controlled and safe for production MSP environments. Typical activities include:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Collecting publicly available information about your MSP, staff, infrastructure, and exposed services without direct interaction.

• Active Reconnaissance – Scanning and probing networks to identify live hosts, open ports, services, and potential vulnerabilities.

• Social Engineering – Where in scope, testing user awareness and processes, such as phishing for credentials or remote access approvals.

• Exploitation – Safely exploiting identified weaknesses to validate that they are truly exploitable, not just theoretical risks.

• Post-Exploitation – Assessing what an attacker could do after initial access, including data exposure and access to client systems.

• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to gain higher-level access (e.g., domain admin, RMM admin) that would be especially damaging for an MSP.

• Lateral Movement – Moving across systems and environments, including evaluating the risk of pivoting into hosted or managed client networks.

• Maintaining Access – Demonstrating how attackers could persist in your network, while clearly documenting and safely removing any artifacts.

• Covering Tracks – Reviewing logging and monitoring to determine whether malicious activity would be detected or remain invisible.

• Reporting – Delivering a detailed, plain-language report covering findings, business impact, evidence, and prioritized remediation guidance for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

This methodology supports not only traditional penetration testing but also Red Team exercises, Blue Team detection reviews, and Purple Team collaborative sessions for MSPs looking to mature their overall security posture.

 

National Reach

 

While we work closely with MSPs and businesses in Salt Lake City and across Utah, OCD Tech also provides network penetration testing and IT security assessment services nationwide, including:

• Boston (MA)

• New York City (NY)

• Washington DC

• Philadelphia (PA)

• Dallas (TX)

• Los Angeles (CA)

• Chicago (IL)

• Baltimore (MD)

 

Contact Our Utah Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, IT security assessments, and cybersecurity consulting to MSPs, technology providers, and other organizations in Salt Lake City and throughout Utah.

If you would like to discuss a penetration test for your MSP environment—or validate the security of the networks and systems you manage for clients—please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to review scope, objectives, and timelines, and to determine the most appropriate testing approach for your organization.