Background check services are outsourced solutions that verify an individual’s identity, employment, education, financial history, and criminal records. Unlike background check software, which provides self-service tools for human resources (HR) teams, these services combine automated data checks with human expertise to deliver more comprehensive, accurate, and legally defensible results.
Benefits: Background check services reduce hiring risk, protect against negligent hiring claims, increase workplace safety, and comply with regulations like Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Key screening areas: Identity verification, employment and education history, criminal records, sanctions and watchlists, drug testing, and continuous monitoring
Why was this category introduced?
This category was introduced to give buyers a dedicated space for service-first screening providers, distinct from software-only tools. As global hiring, compliance requirements, and workplace safety demands increase, background check services provide outsourced expertise and compliance services like employment law, data privacy, risk, and security. They also cover industry-specific compliance, such as healthcare exclusion checks, like Office of Inspector General (OIG) check and System for Award Management (SAM), checks in transportation like the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requirements in financial services.
To qualify for inclusion in the Background Check Services category, a services provider must:
Deliver background screening services, not self-service software
Provide comprehensive checks on employment, education, identity, credit and financial history, drug testing, and criminal record
Incorporate human verification to validate candidate information beyond automated database lookups
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., FCRA, GDPR, HIPAA, DPDP) and provide legally defensible results
Offer secure data handling, applicant rights management, and dispute resolution processes
Support customizable or industry-specific screening packages (e.g., healthcare license verification, DOT compliance, anti-money laundering (AML), and know your customer (KYC) checks)