Running an IT company without regularly checking in on your network security? That’s like leaving the front door to your home open and hoping that no one walks in. According to Verizon’s 2025 DBIR, system intrusions were the most common type of breach in 2024, accounting for 36% of incidents.
When cybercriminals are on the hunt for new targets, they always look for poorly guarded network infrastructure. After all, the weaker the security, the easier it is to penetrate. Doing a full audit of your setup is an absolute necessity.
However, auditing your security isn’t about panicking or overreacting. It’s about gaining clarity. Once you break it down and take it one layer at a time, the whole process becomes manageable, giving you peace of mind that your systems, client data, and company reputation are better protected.
Let’s explore how to audit your IT company’s network security.
Assess the Network Security Policy
Healthcare is the most targeted critical infrastructure sector for cyber threats. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report logged 444 incidents in 2024 alone, including 238 ransomware attacks — more than any other industry. Needless to say, networks with the weakest security policies in place are targeted and exploited first.
Before you start poking around with tools and diagnostics, take a look at your existing security policy, which outlines how your company handles cybersecurity. It should cover everything from how you manage passwords to how devices connect to the network.
If you don’t have a clear, written policy, that’s your first red flag. Even if you do have one, it might be outdated, as technology and the methods attackers use constantly evolve. If your policy is more than a year old, it’s likely missing essential updates.
Remember that network security policy management is more than just checking a box. The threats your company faces today are more complex than ever, and they won’t stop evolving. Without regular updates and smart changes to your approach, your policies quickly become stale and ineffective.
Strong policy management enforces strict access control measures and establishes incident response procedures, creating a dynamic approach to network security.
Business Policy: Meaning, Types, and Examples
Check Both the Hardware and the Software Side
Once you’ve reviewed the policy, it’s time to examine the actual tools and systems that hold everything together. This approach involves taking stock of all the routers, firewalls, switches, servers, and endpoint devices that comprise your infrastructure. Devices that are no longer receiving security updates are low-hanging fruit for attackers.
Ask the following questions:
- Are they updated?
- Does the manufacturer still support them?
You also want to check your software, particularly operating systems and any third-party tools. Sometimes, you’ll discover old programs running in the background that are no longer in use. Outdated or abandoned software often slips through the cracks of your update routines, making them prime targets for exploitation.
Check Logs and Monitor Traffic Patterns
One of the smartest things you can do during a network audit is dig into your logs, not just for spotting threats, but for identifying inefficiencies and unusual behaviors before they escalate. They tell you what’s been happening on your network, what’s talking to what, and whether anything looks suspicious.
Unusual login times, unfamiliar IP addresses, or repeated access attempts from odd locations can all be signs that something isn’t right. If you’re not actively reviewing logs or monitoring network traffic, you’re flying blind. You don’t need to stare at these numbers every day, but your systems should alert you when patterns go sideways.
Examine how alerts are triggered, who is notified, and what happens afterward. If it takes hours or days to respond to something that looks fishy, that’s a problem. A good audit helps uncover these weak points, allowing you to address them before they become a real issue.
Make Audits a Regular Habit
A network security audit is a regular task that helps identify and address potential issues before they become serious problems. The digital world doesn’t stay still, and neither should your approach to protecting it. So, if it’s been a while since you took a good, hard look at your IT company’s network, now’s the time. The risks are real, so you need the tools and insight to stay ahead—not play catch-up.
