Network Audit Process
As a network grows with a business the changes that occur over time may impact network performance and security. Many companies perform network audits in order to minimize the impact of changes; they also do this to ensure that the network is stable and secure. Network audits involve investigating documentation, security, infrastructure and performance to ensure that the network is performing optimally and within compliance requirements.
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Documentation
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A good network audit starts with an analysis of available network documentation. While most technicians do not like the chore of documentation, it is essential that a company network, no matter how small, be documented properly. Good documentation speeds troubleshooting when there are problems, and it provides new employees with a picture of the network layout. Current documentation is also critical when the primary network support person decides to leave the company. The audit process confirsms currency and completeness of documentation, which should include network diagrams and hardware configuration specifications.
Physical Infrastructure
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Another pahse of the audit process is inspecting the physical infrastructure in order to verity inventory and check for compliance with networking standards. This includes locating routers, switches and cabinets. The actual physical location of equipment and wiring should also be checked against existing documentation. If there have been changes to the infrastructure, the documentation should be updating accordingly. Cabinets and racks should all be in compliance with electrical codes and security requirements.
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Security
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A proper network audit is incomplete without an evaluation of network security. Network security should be evaluated against current security concerns to ensure updated security measures are in place. This includes checking to be sure firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention devices and servers are updated with the latest stable software. It is also important that obsolete user IDs and passwords be discovered and deleted. The security phase is one of the most important steps in the audit process since a lapse in security could make all other measures irrelevant.
Performance
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Network performance is important to productivity and should be audited to ensure the proper hardware configuration settings are in place. The network audit should include checking documented hardware configurations against running configurations. The audit should also include measuring network performance to ensure that routers and switches are performing at their maximum potential. This is an involved and tedious process that takes a lot of time, but the rewards can be worth it if it identifies a serious performance issue and solves it.
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