Description
The Network Health Assessment is a structured, remote review of your business network. It answers three practical questions: what is working, what is at risk, and what should you fix first? You receive a plain-language report with prioritized recommendations, so you can make confident decisions about your network instead of guessing.
Overview
Many small business networks grow one device at a time. A router from the internet provider, a switch added when the office expanded, a few access points bought in a hurry, a firewall rule created years ago for a reason nobody remembers. Each piece works, more or less, but nobody has looked at the whole picture. Problems such as slow Wi-Fi, intermittent drops, outdated firmware or overly permissive firewall rules stay hidden until they cause an outage or a security incident.
This assessment gives you that whole picture. Using the same methodical approach we teach in our guides, we review your devices, configurations, topology and security posture, then translate our findings into a short, prioritized action plan. It is the best first step if you are not sure where your network stands or what to invest in next.
Who it is for
- Small and mid-sized businesses without a dedicated network engineer.
- Offices experiencing slow performance, unreliable Wi-Fi or unexplained outages.
- IT generalists who want an independent second opinion on the network they manage.
- Owners and managers preparing to grow, move offices or replace equipment and want to know what is worth keeping.
- Organizations that have recently taken over a network from a previous provider and inherited little or no documentation.
What is included
The standard scope covers a single site with up to 25 network devices, including routers, firewalls, switches and wireless access points or controllers. Within that scope we review:
- Topology and design: how devices connect, how traffic flows, where single points of failure exist and whether the layout suits your size and needs.
- Configuration quality: IP addressing, VLANs, routing, DHCP and DNS settings, spanning tree, and consistency across devices.
- Security posture: management access, default or weak credentials, exposed services, firewall rule hygiene, guest network isolation and logging. This draws on our firewall hardening checklist.
- Performance and reliability: interface errors, utilization, duplex mismatches, wireless channel planning and signal concerns reported by users.
- Lifecycle status: firmware versions, end-of-support hardware and devices that no longer receive security updates.
- Backups and documentation: whether configurations are backed up and whether any existing documentation matches reality.
Deliverables
- A written assessment report (PDF and editable document) with an executive summary for non-technical readers.
- A findings table rating each issue by severity, effort and impact.
- A prioritized action plan split into quick wins, short-term improvements and longer-term projects.
- A high-level topology diagram of the network as found.
- A 60-minute walkthrough call to explain results and answer questions.
- 14 days of email follow-up for clarifying questions after delivery.
Process and timeline
Most assessments are completed within 5 to 7 business days once we have the information and access we need.
- Intake (day 0): after checkout, you complete a short questionnaire about your site, devices, users and known problems.
- Kickoff call (day 1): a 30-minute call to confirm goals, agree on access and schedule any live sessions.
- Data collection (days 1–3): we gather configurations and status information using read-only access, supervised screen sharing or exports you provide.
- Analysis (days 3–5): we review configurations, compare them against good practice and identify risks and improvements.
- Reporting (days 5–7): we deliver the written report and hold the walkthrough call.
What we need from you
- A main contact who can answer questions and coordinate access.
- Read-only or temporary administrative access to in-scope devices, or configuration exports if you prefer.
- Someone available during agreed sessions to share their screen or run simple commands if remote access is not possible.
- Any existing documentation, diagrams or notes from previous providers, however incomplete.
- A short list of known problems or concerns from staff, if available.
Please do not send passwords by plain email. We will agree a secure method for sharing access during the kickoff call, and we recommend rotating any shared credentials once the assessment is complete.
What is not included
- Implementing fixes or making configuration changes. The assessment is analysis only.
- Servers, endpoints, cloud applications, email systems or phone systems beyond their network connectivity.
- Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning with intrusive tools or formal compliance audits.
- On-site visits, physical cabling surveys or professional wireless site surveys with specialized equipment.
- Networks larger than the standard scope or with multiple sites, unless agreed in writing in advance.
- Purchasing or reselling hardware.
The outcome
At the end of the assessment you will understand your network clearly, know which risks matter most and have a realistic plan to address them in order. You can use the report to budget for improvements, brief their management, or give a new IT provider a head start. If you want help acting on the findings, the Firewall & Security Hardening and Network Documentation & Diagram Package services are natural next steps.
Have questions before ordering? Read our FAQ or contact us.
