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A network security audit shows you exactly what is exposed on your Chicago office network today, from firewall rules to forgotten devices, and gives you a ranked list of fixes you can act on.
Get a Free IT AssessmentA network security audit is a structured check of how your office network is built, who can reach it and what could go wrong. It looks at your firewall, switches, Wi-Fi, remote access, user accounts and the devices plugged in around the office. The goal is simple. You learn where the weak spots are before someone else finds them.
Most Chicago offices we describe here have grown in layers. A router from the first lease. A second office added after a hire. A printer that someone connected years ago and nobody has touched since. Over time, rules pile up and old access stays open. An audit sorts through that pile and tells you which parts are still needed and which are risks.
You do not need to understand the technical details to use the result. A good audit ends with a short report you can read in one sitting. It lists what was checked, what was found, how serious each item is and what it would cost to fix. You decide what to do first, and you keep the report whether or not you hire anyone to do the work.
Chicago businesses sit in very different buildings. A Loop office shares risers and wiring closets with other tenants. A River North agency may run open Wi-Fi for clients and guests. A West Loop startup adds laptops every month. Each setup has its own gaps, and the gaps are rarely visible from your desk. An audit puts them on paper.
Many owners ask for one after something small goes wrong. A phishing email that got clicked, a slow network nobody can explain, or a cyber insurance form with questions they cannot answer. Others ask because a client, bank or insurer wants proof that the network was reviewed. Either way, a dated report gives you something concrete to show and something concrete to fix.
Everything below is part of one monthly plan. Pick a topic to see what is handled for you and how it works in a Chicago office.
The firewall is the front door of your network. We review its rules one by one, looking for old exceptions, open ports and settings that were never meant to stay. Many offices carry rules from vendors and projects long finished.
We also check that the firmware is current, logging is turned on and someone is actually watching the alerts. A firewall that is installed but not maintained gives a false sense of safety. You get a list of what to remove, tighten or replace.
Wi-Fi is often the easiest way into an office network. We test how staff, guest and device networks are set up, whether they are kept apart and how strong the passwords and encryption are. Shared floors and busy lobbies make this more important.
We also look for rogue access points, old network names and printers or cameras sitting on the same network as your files. Splitting these into separate zones limits the damage if one device is compromised. The report shows what to separate first.
We review user accounts, admin rights and remote access. Former employees who still have logins, shared passwords and accounts with more access than they need are among the most common findings in an audit.
We also check how people connect from home or while traveling, and whether multi-factor sign-in is turned on where it counts. Fixing access is usually inexpensive and removes a large share of everyday risk. You see exactly which accounts need attention.
You cannot protect what you cannot see. We build a list of every computer, server, switch and connected device on the network, then check which ones are missing updates or running software that is no longer supported.
Old servers, unpatched laptops and forgotten network gear are common entry points. The audit flags each one and tells you whether to update, replace or retire it. You also get a clear count to use for planning and budgets.
A good audit also asks what happens if something goes wrong. We check whether backups exist and can be restored, who gets called first and whether anyone has written down the steps. Many offices find they have no plan at all.
The report closes with a short, ranked action list and a written quote for each item. You can fix it yourself, hand it to your current IT provider or ask us to do it. There is no pressure and no long contract attached to the audit.
Plenty of companies can fix a laptop. These are the three reasons clients mention most when they explain why they picked Ping Chicago.
Your technicians know how Loop high-rises handle building access, why basement server closets flood in summer storms and how long it really takes to reach Oak Brook at 4 p.m. That local knowledge turns into faster, calmer fixes.
Your network, devices and backups are watched around the clock. Most issues are caught and fixed before anyone in your office notices, and the rest are explained to you in plain English.
You get a written per-user quote after a free assessment, with every included service listed. No hourly surprises, no emergency rates and no fine print about what counts as extra.
Chicago offices range from high-rise suites to storefronts and warehouses, and each has different network risks. The audit adapts to your building, your staff and the kind of data you handle.
Most Loop offices share a building’s internet riser, wiring closets and security desk. Managed IT here means working with property management on access and cabling, keeping remote access stable for commuters and scheduling after-hours work around building rules.
Creative agencies need fast Wi-Fi for large files and constant video calls, while medical offices near Northwestern Memorial need HIPAA-ready systems. Both get the same help desk, with security matched to the data they store.
Teams here grow fast, so new hires need laptops, accounts and access on their first day. Managed IT keeps onboarding repeatable and the network ready for the next floor or the next office.
Dental and medical practices, therapists and small firms run on a few critical systems: scheduling, imaging and billing. Managed IT keeps them patched, backed up and running before the first appointment of the day.
Point-of-sale systems, guest Wi-Fi and a handful of laptops can still take a shop offline. Managed IT separates guest and business networks and keeps payment systems updated and monitored.
Event, hospitality and professional offices near McCormick Place deal with seasonal rushes. Managed IT scales support around busy weeks and keeps shared and public spaces secure.
Practices and offices in Evanston and Skokie get the same remote help desk as downtown clients, with on-site visits scheduled for hardware, cabling and network work.
Logistics and distribution businesses near O’Hare run warehouses, scanners and shipping systems around the clock. Managed IT monitors those networks 24/7 and plans updates outside shift changes.
Many companies in Oak Brook, Naperville and Schaumburg run a suburban headquarters with a city branch. Managed IT connects both sites securely and supports staff at either location.
Not every audit is the same. Some are automated scans, others are one-off consultant projects. This table shows how the common options differ.
| Topic | Ping Chicago | Automated Scan Tool | One-Off Security Consultant |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is checked | Firewall, Wi-Fi, access, devices & readiness | Mostly open ports & known flaws | Depends on the scope you buy |
| Human review | Technician reviews every finding | Little or none | Yes, by the consultant |
| Report style | Plain English with ranked fixes | Long technical output | Often detailed, sometimes dense |
| Fix pricing | Written quote for each item | Not included | Usually a separate engagement |
| Local knowledge | Chicago buildings & office setups | None | Varies by consultant |
| Typical cost | Typically a fixed fee by office size | Low, often a subscription | Typically higher, billed hourly or by project |
| After the report | Help available, but optional | Self-service only | Handoff to your team |
The audit turns a vague worry about security into a short list of specific, priced actions.
You get findings in plain English, with no jargon you need to decode.
Each issue is rated by risk, so urgent items stand out from nice-to-haves.
You see every device on your network, including ones nobody remembered.
Every recommended fix comes with a written price, so nothing surprises you.
An audit often points toward other work, and these pages explain the most common next steps.
A wider review of business risk, covering policies, people and data as well as the network.
Cybersecurity TrainingTeaches your staff to spot phishing and risky requests that no firewall can stop.
Cyber Incident ResponseA tested plan and expert help ready for the day something actually goes wrong.
Firewall Management ServicesOngoing care of the firewall rules, updates and alerts an audit usually flags.
Our old provider took a day to answer. Now a typical ticket is closed in about 12 minutes, and password resets happen while I’m still on the phone. Our staff stopped complaining about IT within the first month, which never happened before.
We were nervous about changing providers with deadlines ahead. The whole move took three weeks, email and files kept working throughout, and every login and device was documented. Not one person missed a day of work because of it.
We used to get surprise invoices every time something broke. Now it’s one predictable monthly bill, and problems get flagged before we notice them. Planning our IT budget takes five minutes instead of an argument with the owner.
After a free assessment, you get a written quote with every fix priced out. No surprises, and no work starts until you agree.
It is a structured review of your network that checks the firewall, Wi-Fi, user access, devices and updates. You receive a written report listing what was found, how serious each issue is and what it would cost to fix.
Most small business audits are typically priced as a fixed fee based on the number of users, devices and locations. A single office costs less than a multi-site business. You should get a written price before any work starts.
Most small offices take a few days from first access to final report. Larger or multi-site networks take longer. Much of the work happens in the background, so your staff usually notice very little disruption during the process.
Normally no. Most checks are passive or light. Anything that could affect performance is scheduled after hours or agreed in advance, which matters for busy Loop and River North offices with limited maintenance windows.
An audit focuses on the technical state of your network. A risk assessment is broader and also looks at policies, people, vendors and data handling. Many businesses start with an audit and add a risk assessment later.
No. The report is written in plain English with each issue rated by urgency. Technical details are included for your IT person, but the summary is meant for owners and office managers.
Most businesses benefit from one every year, and again after major changes like a move, a new office, a new provider or a large hiring wave. Insurers and clients may also ask for a recent report.
It helps. The report gives you real answers about firewalls, access controls and backups. Insurers set their own requirements, so check your policy, but a recent audit usually makes the questionnaire much easier to complete.
Often both. Much of the review can be done remotely, but physical checks of wiring closets, switches and Wi-Fi coverage are useful. We coordinate with your property manager when building access rules apply.
You get them flagged first, with a plain explanation and a written fix quote. Urgent items can be handled quickly, and the rest are ranked so you can plan your budget over time.
Need something slightly different? These services cover the same ground from another angle.
A free assessment shows what is at risk, what to fix first and what it would cost.