Network Security Audit Control List

A Network Security Audit is a structured assessment of your network's infrastructure, policies, and practices to identify vulnerabilities, validate controls, and ensure alignment with security standards or compliance requirements (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST, PCI DSS).

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✅ Network Security Audit Checklist (With Evidence Examples)

#	Audit Area	Control Description	Evidence Examples
1	Network Diagram	Updated logical & physical diagrams of network and segmentation	Diagrams, topology files
2	Firewall Configuration	Only necessary ports/services are allowed; default-deny policy	Firewall rule sets, screenshots, rule change logs
3	IDS/IPS Deployment	Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems actively monitoring threats	IDS logs, alert reports, deployment topology
4	Router/Switch Hardening	Secure configurations, disable unused services, and change default creds	Config backups, audit logs
5	Network Segmentation	Critical assets are segmented (e.g., via VLANs or subnets)	VLAN configurations, ACLs
6	Secure Remote Access	VPNs with MFA, logging, and limited access to internal network	VPN config, connection logs, MFA reports
7	Patch Management	Timely patching of routers, firewalls, and other network devices	Patch logs, firmware version reports
8	Logging & Monitoring	Centralized logging and alerts for all network devices	Syslog server data, SIEM dashboard
9	Wireless Security	WPA3/WPA2 encryption, hidden SSIDs, and MAC filtering in place	Wireless controller config, access logs
10	DNS Security	Secure DNS configurations, anti-spoofing measures	DNSSEC configs, resolver logs
11	DDoS Protection	DDoS mitigation strategies in place (cloud-based or on-prem)	DDoS protection service settings, test reports
12	Physical Security of Network Equipment	Network gear is secured in locked rooms/racks	Photos, access logs, security policies
13	Admin Access Control	Admin access is RBAC-enabled and logged	Admin login reports, access policy files
14	Network Device Backup	Configurations of routers, firewalls, etc. are backed up regularly	Backup logs, config history reports
15	Configuration Management	Device configurations are versioned and reviewed periodically	Git repo, config change logs
16	Asset Inventory	Complete inventory of network devices with status & ownership	Asset register, CMDB screenshots
17	Vulnerability Scanning	Internal/external scans of network and devices are done regularly	Nessus/Qualys reports, remediation tracker
18	Network Access Control (NAC)	Devices are authenticated before joining the network	NAC system config, device logs
19	Incident Response Integration	Network-level logs and alerts feed into IR workflow	IR playbooks, alert escalation flow
20	Compliance Checks	Network setup complies with PCI DSS, ISO 27001, or other frameworks	Audit trail, gap analysis, compliance scorecards

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🔧 Tools Commonly Used

• Vulnerability Scanners: Nessus, OpenVAS
• SIEMs: Splunk, ELK, QRadar
• Firewall Management: Palo Alto Panorama, Fortinet, Cisco FMC
• Config Auditing: RANCID, Oxidized
• Network Mapping: Nmap, SolarWinds, NetBrain

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🧾 Optional Deliverables in a Network Audit Report

• Executive Summary (Risks & Recommendations)
• Vulnerability Heat Map
• Control Maturity Score
• Device/Asset Inventory
• Firewall/ACL Policy Review
• Compliance Gap Analysis (e.g., NIST 800-53, CIS v8)

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Would you like a template audit report or Excel checklist to perform your own network security audit?