Wireless Infrastructure Audit Checklist

Most infrastructure problems stem from not knowing what you have. Contracts signed years ago, hardware installed by previous IT leads, carrier accounts nobody remembers setting up.

This checklist helps you document your current state across six areas. Set aside 2-3 hours and involve anyone who touches your wireless infrastructure.

• Total location countHow many physical locations have wireless connectivity? Include offices, stores, warehouses, distribution centers, and remote sites.
• Device inventory by typeCount of routers, access points, tablets, smartphones, IoT sensors, POS terminals, and any other connected devices.
• Device age distributionHow old is your hardware? Devices over 4 years may lack current security patches or band support.
• SIM card inventoryHow many active SIM cards across all carriers? Include backup/failover SIMs that may be inactive but still under contract.

• List of all carriersWhich carriers provide service? (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, regional carriers, MVNOs)
• Lines per carrierHow many active lines on each carrier? This determines your leverage for rate negotiations.
• Coverage gapsWhich locations have poor or unreliable coverage? Note specific addresses and the issues experienced.
• Failover configurationDo critical locations have backup connectivity? What's the failover carrier and how is switchover triggered?
• Data plan typesWhat plans are in use? (Unlimited, pooled, per-device caps) Are you paying for data you're not using?

• Router makes and modelsList all router hardware in use. (Cradlepoint, Peplink, Cisco, Digi, Sierra Wireless, etc.)
• Firmware versionsAre devices running current firmware? Outdated firmware creates security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.
• End-of-life equipmentWhich devices are no longer supported by the manufacturer? These won't receive security updates.
• Ownership statusDo you own the hardware outright, lease it, or is it bundled with a service contract?
• Spare inventoryDo you have replacement hardware on hand? How quickly can you replace a failed device?

• Contract inventoryList all active contracts: carriers, hardware vendors, managed service providers, software licenses.
• Contract end datesWhen does each contract expire? Note auto-renewal dates and required notice periods.
• Early termination feesWhat's the cost to exit each contract early? Some are negotiable, others are fixed.
• SLA commitmentsWhat uptime and support SLAs are you paying for? Are they being met?

• Monthly carrier costsTotal monthly spend per carrier, including base plans, overages, taxes, and fees.
• Hardware costsAnnual spend on hardware purchases, leases, replacements, and repairs.
• Managed service costsWhat are you paying for device management, monitoring, or support services?
• Internal labor costsHow many hours per month does your team spend managing wireless infrastructure? (vendor calls, troubleshooting, billing reconciliation)
• Cost per locationCalculate total monthly cost divided by locations. This is your baseline for comparison.

• Current support contactsWho do you call for each vendor? Do you have direct contacts or just general support numbers?
• Average resolution timeHow long do issues typically take to resolve? Track this for the past 6 months if possible.
• Outage historyHow many outages in the past 12 months? Duration of each? Root cause and resolution?
• Pain pointsWhat are the top 3 frustrations with your current setup? (Be specific — these inform what to prioritize in a new solution.)