A network audit is a detailed and systematic evaluation of your organisation’s whole network infrastructure, hardware, software, network security, and device configurations. It provides a clear and current overview of your IT environment, allowing you to track performance, identify inefficiencies, and uncover any security weaknesses that could compromise your business.
Whether you’re a growing SME or operating an enterprise-level network, a professional audit makes sure your systems are operating efficiently, securely, and by industry best practices. From out-of-date network hardware and improperly configured firewalls to bandwidth bottlenecks and unpatched applications, a comprehensive audit uncovers hidden issues that will bring operations to a grinding halt or make you susceptible to cyber-attack.
We provide customised network audits to your business needs at The WiFi Specialist, delivering insights that drive more intelligent infrastructure planning, BYOD policy, and future digital transformation. From physical cabling and wireless access points through to data traffic flows and network segmentation, our audit process encompasses everything, providing a complete audit report you can act on with confidence.
Whether you’re planning for expansion, troubleshooting connectivity problems, or just need peace of mind, a network audit is the basis for a faster, safer, and more reliable network.
Why Is a Network Audit Important?
As digital environments become more complex and cyber threats increase, regular network auditing is now the norm. Audits deliver end-to-end network visibility, allowing IT personnel to maintain control over expansive networks, identify unauthorised devices, and track employee access, particularly as bring-your-own-devices (BYODs) gain traction. They are also utilised to impose security controls, reduce downtime, and inform real-time decision-making to steer future improvements.
Key Components of a Network Audit
A well-executed audit will typically review:
- Network devices (switches, routers, access points)
- Firewall and router settings
- Operating systems and patch levels
- Active services and background processes
- Access control and authentication policies
- Installed security measures and encryption protocols
How to Perform a Network Audit
Performing a network audit is a structured process that enables your company to gain complete visibility into its infrastructure, from device functionality to its overall cybersecurity posture. This is how the procedure usually goes.
Begin by deciding the specific goal of your network audit. This can range from enhancing general network performance and preparing for a compliance audit to identifying security weaknesses or planning for future infrastructure.
After deciding on the objective, identify what portion of the network or what particular areas are to be included: wireless infrastructure, remote endpoints, business-critical systems, or the whole network? Clearly define the scope so that your resources are optimally used and the audit can be focused.
Scope determined, step two is to gather in-depth information regarding your network. This is typically accomplished with the assistance of network auditing software and heatmaps that can scan and map your infrastructure, detect attached devices, track traffic flow, manage configurations, and alert you to potential security issues. By employing a mix of automated tools and manual validation, you have a more precise and stable dataset to work from.
You need an inventory of your entire network. This starts at the underlying infrastructure, such as servers, switches, and routers, and extends down to workstations, mobile devices, printers, and IoT devices. Even less common items, such as VoIP phones or smart TVs, need to be included. Every device should be inventoried with its specifications, including IP addresses and MAC addresses, firmware versions, and operating systems. This is the basis for discovering ageing hardware, unsupported software, or unauthorised devices.
With your inventory in place, examine how your network is running. This involves identifying issues such as latency, jitter, abnormal bandwidth usage, packet loss, or service interruptions. These observations identify areas that are not performing well or sections of the network that are overloaded, which may result in bottlenecks or connectivity issues, particularly in networks with numerous concurrent users.
At this point, take into consideration how devices on the network are configured. Pay special attention to access control configurations, firewall policies, encryption methods, port utilisation, and VLAN configurations. You should also check for firmware and software updates. Then compare your configurations to written security baselines or regulatory compliance standards like ISO 27001, NIST, or CIS Benchmarks. This helps ensure your network is following best practices and is not inadvertently exposing weaknesses. To complete the process, add security audits and, if appropriate, penetration testing. These activities simulate actual attack scenarios to test your defences so that you can uncover hidden vulnerabilities in your firewall configurations, wireless security, VPNs, and user authentication. Security audits also compare your compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS, depending on your specific business. These more extensive tests enable you to gauge the actual robustness of your network against evolving cyber threats.
Common Issues Identified During a Network Audit
Network audits often reveal:
- Outdated hardware or software
- Weak or inconsistent security configurations
- Identifying vulnerabilities in open ports or unpatched systems
- Misconfigured network infrastructures
- Poor documentation or lack of standardisation
Benefits of Regular Network Audits
Routine network audits provide you with a variety of long-term advantages that help you achieve a more secure, efficient, and future-proof infrastructure. Audits reveal performance problems sooner, which makes your overall network more stable and day-to-day operations easier. Audits are also key to revealing possible security weaknesses before they can be exploited, enabling your business to harden its defences in advance. Routine audits keep your systems in compliance with industry standards, preventing expensive penalties and reputational damage. Further, leveraging automated tools throughout the auditing process enables IT personnel to streamline tasks and more effectively utilize resources. Above all, an audited network creates a solid basis for new technology adoption, with upgrades, cloud services, and IoT devices easily integrated as your enterprise expands.
Network Audit Checklist
- Inventory all hardware and software
- Check device configurations and firmware versions
- Review user access levels and authentication policies
- Validate backup and disaster recovery systems
- Test firewall and antivirus settings
- Generate and review the audit report
Network Security Audit vs. Network Performance Audit
While a network performance audit focuses on speed, uptime, and traffic flow, a network security audit concentrates on risk exposure, security controls, and data integrity. Both are vital and typically performed together to obtain an overall snapshot of your organisation’s online health.
When Should You Conduct a Network Audit?
We recommend conducting network audits regularly, typically once or twice a year, as a routine maintenance measure to ensure continued performance and security. Audits are also required before or after any significant infrastructure modification, such as system upgrades or network growth, to confirm the appropriate configuration and minimise disruption. In the case of a security incident or compliance issue, an audit should be conducted as soon as possible to determine the cause and ensure that such incidents do not recur. Audits are also necessary during periods of drastic business transformation, such as office relocation, mergers, or acquisitions, where knowledge and optimisation of the new or merged network infrastructure are vital for business continuity.
Get Expert Help from The WiFi Specialist
From single audits to long-term support, The WiFi Specialist provides custom network audit solutions with many years of experience and state-of-the-art equipment. Our experts assist organisations like yours in enhancing security, increasing performance, and making your network infrastructure future-proof. Contact us today to find out more or schedule your audit.
Contact The Wifi Specialist today for a quote or to arrange a no obligation survey
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I was struggling to get a decent wifi signal down to the garden office until the Wifi Specialists recommended a Point to Point kit. Now the internet is faster in the office than it is in the house. The guys did a great job installing too, keeping all the cabling very neat and hidden wherever possible. Even sorted out the TV aerial cable while they were doing the P2P cabling! Great service, strongly recommend.
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I had been struggling with my wifi signal around my house for a number of years and the situation only got worse as we moved to remote working. After many attempts to get the issue addressed through the local ISP, I (my wife and kids) decided that I needed a specialist to come in. Indy made the whole process very simple from the initial site visit, design guidance and installation. I had my house refurbished a few years ago so adding new cabling around the house needed knowledge and experience. Indy and Rak did a great job at concealing the cat6 cables and provided a professional finish. I now have full wifi signal all around the house, garden and garage. I would highly recommend The Wi-Fi Specialist. Thank you.
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The IT service from this company was exemplary and resulted in a very good WiFi signal throughout the house. Indy was generous with his time and explained the technology well, without trying to sell equipment that would have been unnecessary for a domestic installation. He is friendly, knowledgeable and very professional. It was a great pleasure to work with him.
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