How to Perform a Simple Security Audit of Your Business Network

Cybrvault
21 hours ago
6 min read

Protecting your business network is no longer optional. Whether you store customer data, process payments, manage remote workers, or simply rely on email to run your day-to-day operations, your network is a prime target for cybercriminals. The truth is most breaches don’t happen because attackers are highly sophisticated. They happen because businesses overlook basic security steps: outdated software, weak passwords, unused accounts, open ports, misconfigured Wi-Fi, and poor monitoring.

The good news is that you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to dramatically improve your security posture. By performing a simple network security audit, you can quickly identify weaknesses, fix them, and reduce your exposure to ransomware, data theft, financial fraud, and operational downtime.

This guide walks you through the process step by step in a practical, business-focused way. You’ll learn what to look for, how to test your network securely, and how to prioritize remediation so you can protect your business without wasting time or money.

What Is a Network Security Audit?

A network security audit is a structured review of the systems, devices, users, software, and configurations that make up your business network. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, outdated systems, and weak controls that could be exploited by attackers.

A good audit:

Defines what systems are in scope
Identifies what devices and users exist
Reviews access permissions
Checks network configurations and segmentation
Examines endpoint and server security
Validates that backups and monitoring are working

Think of it as a health check for your network.

Why Every Business Needs Regular Security Audits

Most cyberattacks succeed not because hackers are brilliant, but because businesses leave doors wide open. Consider the following:

60% of small businesses that experience a cyberattack shut down within six months.
Over 80% of breaches are traced to weak or stolen passwords.
More than half of companies do not know all devices connected to their network.

A simple, repeatable audit helps prevent:

Ransomware infections
Business email compromise (BEC)
Data theft and privacy violations
Insider misuse of data
Financial loss and reputation damage

Regular audits allow you to stay proactive instead of reacting to crisis after crisis.

Step 1: Define Your Audit Scope and Authorization

Before performing any technical testing, clearly define what you are allowed to test and what is excluded.

Identify the networks, locations, and server environments included.
Obtain written authorization from leadership or ownership.
Clarify whether remote workers, cloud services, or vendor systems are in scope.
Establish your timeline and any maintenance windows for scanning.

If multiple stakeholders are involved, assign a single point of communication to avoid misalignment during the audit.

Step 2: Create an Updated Asset Inventory

You cannot secure what you do not know exists. Start by identifying every device and service connected to your network.

Include:

Computers and laptops
Servers (on-premise or cloud)
Phones and tablets used for business
Network devices such as routers, switches, and access points
Printers and shared office equipment
IoT devices including cameras, HVAC, badge readers, and conference room systems
Virtual machines and containers
Cloud applications and SaaS accounts
User accounts and service accounts

Document:

Device name and role
IP address
MAC address (if available)
Operating system and version
Installed critical software and version
Assigned user or owner

It is common to discover devices on your network that no one remembers purchasing. Those are potential risks.

Step 3: Review Patch and Update Status

Attackers rely heavily on known vulnerabilities that already have fixes available. Your first line of defense is simply staying up-to-date.

Check for:

Operating system updates
Firmware updates for routers, firewalls, and Wi-Fi equipment
Updates for applications such as browsers, PDF readers, VPN clients, and office suites
Updates on servers and any internet-facing systems
Security agent software updates (antivirus or EDR)

Prioritize patching:

Internet-facing systems
Servers hosting business-critical data
Laptops and desktops
Network equipment and IoT devices

If you discover systems that are no longer supported by the manufacturer, create a plan to retire or isolate them.

Step 4: Run Port and Vulnerability Scans

This step helps identify open network services and known security weaknesses.

Use scanning tools to:

Detect open ports
Identify the services and software running on those ports
Compare system versions against known vulnerabilities
Highlight misconfigurations or risky defaults

Common scanning tools include:

Nmap for port and service scanning
OpenVAS or Nessus for full vulnerability scanning
OWASP ZAP for web application scanning

Focus on:

Unnecessary open ports
Outdated web servers or databases
Remote access services exposed to the internet
Known exploitable vulnerabilities

Scan results can look overwhelming at first, but you don’t need to fix everything immediately. Start with the highest-risk items.

Step 5: Review User Accounts and Access Privileges

Most breaches involve credential misuse, so reviewing access controls is one of the most important steps.

Check:

Are there any old or unused accounts still enabled?
Do any shared accounts exist, especially admin accounts?
Are there employees with more privileges than necessary?
Are passwords long enough and unique?
Is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled for email, VPN, admin consoles, and remote access?

Remove:

Former employee accounts
Temporary access accounts left active
Generic accounts without accountability

Restrict:

Administrator rights to only those who truly require it
Access to sensitive data on a need-to-know basis

Every reduction in privilege directly reduces risk.

Step 6: Examine Firewalls, Routers, and VPN Configuration

Your firewall and router configurations define how network traffic enters and exits your business. You want traffic to flow only where it needs to.

Review:

Firewall rules
Port forwarding configurations
VPN configuration and authentication
Remote management settings

Ensure:

Remote access requires MFA
Administrative interfaces are not exposed to the internet
Unused port forwarding rules are removed
Logs are enabled and retained

If your business has multiple networks, confirm that they are properly segmented.

Step 7: Evaluate Wi-Fi Network Security

Wi-Fi is one of the most common attack entry points, especially when the same network serves employees, guests, and IoT devices.

Verify:

WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3 is enabled (avoid older WPA or WEP encryption)
The Wi-Fi password is not shared freely or reused
Guest Wi-Fi is fully isolated from the business network
IoT devices are placed on a separate network
WPS is disabled
The router and access point credentials are unique and secure

If multiple SSIDs are possible, configure separate networks for:

Employees
Guests
IoT equipment
Servers or critical systems (if wireless at all)

Step 8: Check Endpoint Protection and Device Hardening

Each device should be protected individually, even if the network is secure.

Confirm:

Antivirus or endpoint detection is running on all systems
Full-disk encryption is enabled (BitLocker, FileVault, or Linux alternatives)
USB storage access is controlled or monitored
Local admin access is limited
Unnecessary software is removed

Devices should be configured to report security alerts centrally whenever possible.

Step 9: Verify Backups and Recovery Capability

Backups are your safety net. If malware or ransomware hits, the difference between recovering quickly and shutting down permanently is whether you can restore your systems.

Check:

Backups are recent
Backups are stored offsite or in the cloud
Backups are encrypted
Backups are protected with access controls
Restore tests have been performed successfully

Most businesses have backups they have never tested. A backup that can’t be restored is the same as no backup at all.

Step 10: Review Logging, Monitoring, and Alerts

Security controls are only useful if you know when they are triggered.

Ensure logging is enabled on:

Servers
Firewalls
VPN systems
Email systems
Endpoint protection

Make sure at least someone reviews logs regularly or receives alerts when suspicious activity occurs, such as:

Multiple failed login attempts
Logins from unusual locations
New admin accounts being created
Large data transfers leaving the network

Even basic alerting can prevent full-scale breaches.

Step 11: Analyze Findings and Prioritize Remediation

Not everything needs to be fixed at once. Prioritize based on risk.

Fix first:

Vulnerabilities on internet-facing systems
Systems with known exploitable flaws
Weak or reused passwords
Exposed remote access services
Disabled or missing security controls

Then:

Apply segmentation
Clean up user access
Improve monitoring and backup practices

The goal is consistent improvement, not perfection.

Step 12: Schedule Regular Audits

Security is not a one-time activity. Set recurring reminders to:

Update software monthly
Review access quarterly
Re-scan networks quarterly or biannually
Test backups at least twice per year
Reassess risks annually

Security becomes manageable when it becomes routine.

Conclusion

A simple security audit is one of the most valuable actions your business can take to reduce risk. By identifying vulnerabilities, tightening access, updating systems, verifying backups, and improving monitoring, you strengthen your defenses significantly. Even small improvements can make your organization a much harder target.

Cybersecurity isn’t about eliminating all risk. It’s about making smart, proactive decisions that protect your people, data, customers, and operations. Start with this audit, take action on what you find, and repeat the process regularly. When you stay ahead of threats, you stay in control!