A company that conducts background checks for the federal government - including investigations on Alabama workers - has been breached, potentially exposing personal data of tens of thousands of federal employees.

The Office of Personnel Management has alerted almost 50,000 federal employees nationwide their personal information may have been exposed following a breach of KeyPoint Government Solutions, Nextgov reported. KeyPoint provides background check services in all 50 states, including Alabama.

OPM told Nextgov while no evidence has been found that personal identifiable information was taken during the hack, it "has elected to conduct these notifications out of an abundance of caution."

Affected employees will receive free credit monitoring.

The breach was first detected by a Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity office.

KeyPoint, and other companies providing background check services, are charged with compiling files on those seeking security clearances and the information can include financial data, legal history and interviews with family, friends or former employers.

This isn't the first hack of a background check contractors. Over the summer, USIS, which also operates in Alabama, was hacked by what is believed to be Chinese computer experts. Personal information on as many as 25,000 workers was exposed in the incident. The U.S. government later cancelled its contract with USIS.