A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering OWASP for Senior HR Technology Leaders
Build secure, scalable people systems with confidence
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
HR systems are no longer just HR’s responsibility, they're security touchpoints.
The situation this course is for
As HR adopts more AI and self-service platforms, ownership of security drifts into grey zones. Without clear grounding in application risk, HR leaders risk being bypassed in key architecture conversations, even when their teams own the tools.
Who this is for
Senior HR leader at a global tech firm, managing digital transformation of people systems with growing security implications
Who this is not for
HR generalists not involved in system selection, implementation, or cross-functional risk alignment
What you walk away with
- Map OWASP Top 10 risks directly to HR system configurations
- Lead vendor discussions with security-aware positioning
- Anticipate audit questions on identity lifecycle design
- Position HR as a proactive partner in platform governance
- Document controls that scale across regions and functions
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. HR Platforms in the Modern Attack Surface
Understand how self-service portals, AI screening tools, and decentralized onboarding expand risk, and why HR now owns part of the perimeter.
12 chapters in this module
- How HR tech expanded beyond HCM boundaries
- Real incidents involving employee data pipelines
- The shift from IT-owned to business-unit-owned systems
- Why attackers now target HR workflows
- Case study: phishing through onboarding emails
- Where HR systems connect to core identity providers
- The role of consent management in data flow
- Common misconfigurations in SaaS HR platforms
- How security teams view HR-owned applications
- Emerging patterns in insider threat detection
- Balancing usability with access control
- Preparing for third-party penetration tests
Module 2. OWASP Fundamentals for Non-Engineers
A plain-language foundation in the OWASP Top 10, tailored for leaders who need to guide decisions without writing code.
12 chapters in this module
- What OWASP actually is, and isn’t
- Injection risks in form inputs and APIs
- Broken authentication in single sign-on setups
- Session management pitfalls in mobile HR apps
- Misconfigured security headers in web portals
- Sensitive data exposure in reporting exports
- How access controls fail in role-based designs
- Server-side request forgery in integrations
- XML external entities in document processors
- Insecure deserialization in legacy HR systems
- Components with known vulnerabilities
- Insufficient logging in employee-facing tools
Module 3. HR-Owned Systems and the Attack Path
Trace how attackers move from an HR portal to core systems, and where your controls can stop them.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping data flow from onboarding to payroll
- Common integration points with identity providers
- How misconfigured APIs enable lateral movement
- The risk of embedded scripts in communication tools
- Phishing through personalized welcome emails
- Credential stuffing across HR SaaS platforms
- Shadow IT in decentralized hiring tools
- Third-party vendor access to employee data
- Mobile app permissions and data leakage
- Session token handling in contractor systems
- Authentication bypass in self-service resets
- How attackers exploit poor logging
Module 4. Vetting Vendors with OWASP Awareness
Ask better questions during procurement by understanding where application security matters most.
12 chapters in this module
- Evaluating security questionnaires from vendors
- Reading between the lines of SOC 2 reports
- What ‘secure by design’ should actually mean
- How to assess penetration test results
- Red flags in API documentation
- Understanding the scope of vendor responsibility
- Questions to ask about input validation
- Assessing identity provider integrations
- Evaluating session timeout configurations
- Reviewing encryption in transit and at rest
- How vendors handle vulnerability disclosure
- Benchmarking against OWASP ASVS Level 1
Module 5. Internal Controls for HR Technology
Design policies and audits that reflect real risk, not just checkbox compliance.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining ownership of configuration settings
- Access reviews for HRIS administrative roles
- Logging requirements for audit readiness
- Change management for system updates
- Segregation of duties in hiring workflows
- Password policy alignment with corporate standards
- Multi-factor enforcement for high-privilege roles
- Employee self-service access boundaries
- Contractor access lifecycle controls
- Incident response playbooks for HR systems
- Data retention rules in alignment with policy
- Vendor offboarding checklist
Module 6. Security by Design in HR Workflows
Embed resilience from the start, especially in AI-driven and automated processes.
12 chapters in this module
- Threat modeling for new HR initiatives
- Privacy and security in AI resume screening
- Input validation in employee feedback tools
- Secure handling of sensitive survey data
- Authentication in chatbot interactions
- Session management in mobile onboarding
- Data anonymization in analytics exports
- Access control in performance review systems
- Secure integration with background check vendors
- Logging decisions made by AI recommenders
- Fallback processes when automation fails
- Redress mechanisms for algorithmic decisions
Module 7. Speaking Effectively with Security Teams
Bridge the gap with CISOs and architects using shared language and mutual priorities.
12 chapters in this module
- Translating HR needs into risk terms
- How security teams prioritize threats
- Common friction points in cross-functional reviews
- Presenting HR initiatives with security context
- Aligning on acceptable risk levels
- Escalating vendor concerns effectively
- Understanding security team metrics
- Responding to findings from scans
- Collaborating on incident response
- Building trust through consistent engagement
- Sharing roadmaps early
- Documenting alignment decisions
Module 8. Audits and Assurance for HR Systems
Anticipate questions and provide evidence confidently, without overpromising or overreacting.
12 chapters in this module
- Preparing for internal audits
- Responding to external auditor inquiries
- Compensating controls for legacy systems
- Evidence collection for access reviews
- Documenting configuration standards
- Handling findings from vulnerability scans
- Explaining security decisions to reviewers
- Justifying risk acceptance when needed
- Tracking remediation timelines
- Reporting on control effectiveness
- Preparing executive summaries
- Updating playbooks after audit cycles
Module 9. Identity Lifecycle Governance
Secure the full arc from hire to retire, with special attention to contingent workers.
12 chapters in this module
- Onboarding workflows and access provisioning
- Role assignment logic in identity systems
- Approval requirements for privileged access
- Temporary access for project hires
- Access recertification for long-tenured employees
- Offboarding automation and verification
- Contractor access duration limits
- Legacy account discovery and cleanup
- Emergency access procedures
- Break-glass access in HR systems
- Auditing access changes over time
- Reporting on orphaned accounts
Module 10. Data Protection Across Regions
Navigate varying expectations for privacy and security, without slowing innovation.
12 chapters in this module
- GDPR implications for recruitment data
- CCPA and employee data rights
- Data residency in HR SaaS platforms
- Cross-border data transfer mechanisms
- Employee consent in AI-driven assessments
- Right to explanation in algorithmic decisions
- Data minimization in onboarding forms
- Retention schedules by jurisdiction
- Employee access to their own data
- Responding to data subject requests
- Secure deletion processes
- Auditing data handling across regions
Module 11. Crisis Response for HR Technology
Act decisively when things go wrong, without overstepping or underreacting.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying when HR systems are involved in breaches
- Coordinating with incident response teams
- Communicating with affected employees
- Preserving logs and session data
- Assessing scope of data exposure
- Engaging legal and compliance partners
- Managing media inquiries tactfully
- Providing factual updates to leadership
- Supporting affected teams with empathy
- Post-incident access reviews
- Updating policies based on findings
- Sharing lessons without blame
Module 12. Leading Secure Transformation
Position yourself as the leader who balances innovation, people, and risk.
12 chapters in this module
- Setting expectations for secure development
- Championing security-aware design
- Recognizing teams that build safely
- Educating peers on application risk
- Advocating for secure defaults
- Measuring progress beyond compliance
- Celebrating resilience publicly
- Documenting leadership impact
- Mentoring future HR tech leaders
- Balancing speed and safety
- Communicating vision across silos
- Leaving a playbook for your successor
How this maps to your situation
- HR technology ownership in decentralized environments
- Cross-functional influence without direct authority
- Security awareness without engineering background
- Leading change in regulated, global organizations
Before vs. after
Before
HR tech decisions made in isolation from security, leading to reactive fixes and missed influence.
After
HR as a proactive force in secure design, trusted across regions and functions.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: 90 minutes of focused learning, designed for completion in one weekend morning
If nothing changes
Without grounding in application security, HR innovations risk being rolled back, bypassed, or audited into irrelevance, limiting your strategic reach.
How this compares to the alternatives
Generic cybersecurity courses assume technical fluency. This is built for HR leaders who shape risk through system decisions, not code.
Frequently asked
Do I need a technical background?
No. This course is designed for senior HR leaders who influence technology decisions, not engineers.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help me lead better vendor discussions?
Yes. You’ll learn to ask precise, risk-informed questions that position you as a strategic partner.
$199 one-time. 90 minutes of focused learning, designed for completion in one weekend morning.
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours