Every engagement we take on starts with a full infrastructure audit. Some clients find that frustrating at first — they called about one problem and would like it fixed. But we cannot responsibly recommend a new firewall, a cloud migration or a support contract without knowing what you already have, how it is connected and where the real risks are. The audit is how we find out.
What we look at
Devices and inventory
Every laptop, desktop, server, printer, phone system and piece of network equipment: what it is, how old it is, whether it is still under warranty and still receiving security updates. Many offices discover equipment they had forgotten about, and a few discover equipment they are still paying for but no longer use.
The network
How the switches, firewall and wireless access points connect; whether Wi-Fi coverage matches where people actually sit; whether guests, CCTV and staff share one network; and what happens when the main internet link goes down.
Security and access
Who has administrator rights, whether multi-factor authentication is switched on for email, how passwords are shared, whether former staff still have working accounts, and whether systems are being patched.
Data and backups
Where your important data lives, what is backed up, where the copies are kept and whether a restore has ever been tested.
Cloud services and licences
Your Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace setup, who holds the top-level admin account, and which licences are assigned to people who no longer need them.
The physical side
The server cupboard, power and backup power, cooling, cabling and labelling — the things that cause outages nobody expects.
People and process
Who staff call when something breaks, how new starters are set up and leavers are removed, and whether any of it is written down.
What you get at the end
A written report in plain language, with every finding ranked by risk into three groups: fix now, plan for, and nice to have. Each item explains what we found, why it matters to the business and a realistic estimate of what it takes to fix. The report is yours to keep and act on, whether or not you work with us afterwards.
What an audit is not
It is not a sales exercise dressed up as advice, and it is not a checklist run by software alone. Tools help us collect information quickly, but the value is in an engineer looking at how it all fits together and asking the questions a scan cannot.
How to prepare
- Gather any existing documentation, however out of date: network diagrams, supplier contacts, licence emails.
- Know who holds the admin passwords for email, the firewall and the internet connection.
- Make a short list of the things that frustrate your team most. They are usually symptoms of something the audit will find.
For a typical small office the audit takes a few days on site plus the write-up. If you would like one, get in touch or read how it fits into our managed IT support.