IT Best Practices Audit TCS offers a wide range of IT Best Practices Audit content covering 15 subjects and over 2200 topics, including:

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1 IT Best Practices Audit TCS offers a wide range of IT Best Practices Audit content covering 15 subjects and over 2200 topics, including: 1. IT Cost Containment 84 topics 2. Cloud Computing Readiness 225 topics 3. Networks 185 topics 4. Desktops and Printers 208 topics 5. Storage 130 topics 6. Microsoft Servers 191 topics 7. iseries Servers 116 topics 8. Web Servers 119 topics 9. Unix and Linux Servers 134 topics 10. Database 115 topics 11. Software Licensing 24 topics 12. Telephony 82 topics 13. Data Center 253 topics 14. IT Leadership and Governance 185 topics 15. Compliance and Security 296 topics 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 1

2 IT Best Practices Audit Desktops and Printers Audit Categories and Topics Name(s) of client resources providing data for this subject Title(s) of client resources providing data for this subject Collect Desktop Info - Types of Desktops (laptop, tablet, netbook, desktop pc, Panologic type device, Wyse Winterm type device, IT, etc.) in organization Desktop Configuration and Operational Documentation Change management process - - controlled changes, documentation updates; acceptance and regression testing; changes are introduced during non production hours; backups or rollback plan Change management logs Hypervisor name if applicable (VMware, Xen, HyperV, etc.) Use of desktop management/data collection tools Virus checking software used: Microsoft, Trend Micro, Norton/Symantec, AVS, CA, etc. Cost Metrics IT Cost Metrics - Total Annual Cost Per Desktop Cost Metrics IT Cost Metrics - Number of Desktops supported per Desktop Support Staff FTE Desktop Support Staffing Desktop Staffing Desktop Support Staffing Desktop Staff Training Staffing Staff Certifications Staffing Staff Selection practices Desktop Support Staffing Support hours Executive Support Executive Support Staffing Executive Support Spare Equipment Executive Support Backups of Executives PC's and data Executive Support of Executives PC's % of desktops and thin clients less than 24 months old % of desktops and thin clients months old % of desktops and thin clients more than 48 months old RAM provisioned/installed Available (unallocated) memory Virtual memory file reads and writes per second 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 2

3 Physical memory - Pool Nonpaged Bytes Counter. Physical memory - Pool paged Bytes Counter. Physical memory - Pool paged Failures Counter. Memory - Committed Bytes Counter - this is the systems total memory demand FSB speed/chipset CPU Speed in GHz Total CPU Cores in desktop CPU utilization for each Core If virtualized, does desktop shares same hardware platform with other users Addressing capability of Virtualization software (Vmware, Hyper-V, Zen, etc.) CPUs that are used in desktops support VT (Virtualization Technology) - may be required for 64 bit VMware host and guest operating system support. Firmware (BIOS) levels Use of UPS or backup power systems (generator) Dedicated power circuits for Desktop components Wireless mouse and keyboards PC Test Environments Spare equipment inventory in use - Windows 98 or older in use - Windows 2000 in use - Windows XP in use - Windows Vista in use - Windows 7 in use - Apple based OS in use - Linux Based OS Use of 32 bit desktop operating systems Use of 64 bit desktop operating systems Network functions Windows 7 deployment Strategy Application readiness for Windows 7 deployment 32 or 64 bit desktop operating system Patch levels 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 3

4 Patch Application/Management Desktops are identically configured and patched Creation of desktops Unused OS Services and Unused (or old versions) of Page file configuration and management Location of Page Files Location of OS files Location of user data files - My Documents" folder, the "Shared Documents" folder, the Outlook Express store folder or Outlook pst file, the Windows Address Book file, Firefox profile folder, etc. Desktop tuning Scheduling of when services (defrag, Google updater, HW health checks, Indexing, etc) run Desktop change monitoring Use of common time service for desktop devices Appropriate use of specific base versions of software (OS, DB, tools, etc.) 32 or 64 bit, etc. Size and configuration of error logs Any compatibility issues with current desktop applications? Use of DW20.exe Dr Watson.Net software Application error checking/logging Device Drivers Power settings Use of password protected screen savers Monitor/Display power settings Citrix and Remote Desktop - use of Remote Assistance or "shadowing" Monitoring of remote client network latency and current network paths/hops in use Citrix and Remote Desktop - local printer mapping onto Citrix and Terminal servers Citrix and Remote Desktop - local drive mapping onto Citrix and Terminal servers Citrix and Remote Desktop - printing Citrix and Remote Desktop - local cache and keystroke optimization settings Citrix and Remote Desktop - "animated" applications Ctrix and Remote Desktop - Screen resolution and color depth and wallpaper 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 4

5 Desktop Reliability Reliability Desktop Reliability Reliability Desktop Reliability Ctrix and Remote Desktop - Audio and Video streaming capabilities Ctrix and Remote Desktop - Screen Savers Ctrix and Remote Desktops - Active Web Overall Availability (% of planned uptime) Tracking of Failures Tracking of Software Failures Tracking of Other failures (unknown) Capture and review of PC reliability data from Vista/Win 7 using computer management console Web Browsers in use Active Web Proactive meetings/communication with vendor representatives Use of Skype, Google Talk, etc. Use of remote control tools (VNC, Citrix shadowing, RDP Remote Assistance, etc.) Destination of backups Backup Software Priority Spybot Search and Destroy CCleaner Instrumentation of key applications Internet Radio (Pandora, Live 365, Jango, SHOUTcast, Slacker, etc Use of to deliver business critical information Large boxes and/or shared boxes Anti-Virus software Status of AV software subscriptions Frequency of AV pattern updates Frequency of scans Timing of scans AV configuration - are scans of certain directories selectively enabled or disabled Automatic, scheduled scanning or real-time scans of databases and databases/pst type files NIC speed NIC utilization during "normal" business use/hours (not during backups, etc.) TCP/IP Tuned - Selective acknowledgement, max packet sizes, receive window size, and auto tuning in Vista and Win7, etc by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 5

6 Printing Printing Printing NIC power management settings Number of send and receive buffers for each NIC DNS servers/services Use of Print Servers for print queues Printer drivers Logging of print traffic Restart of printing/restart of print queues C Free disk space as percent of drive size C Volume Size # of logical volumes that share the same physical disks # of physical drives per logical volume Disk drive type Individual disk drive capacity Drive form factor Drive rotation speed in RPM Aligning the start of disk volumes on physical RAID stripe boundaries Format Size of Data drives (non system C: drives) Average Response time in MS for Drive C Average Response time in MS for Drive D (data drive) Average disk busy % for Drive/volume C Average disk busy % for Paging drive/volume Average disk busy % for Data Drive/volume Write caching on volumes Number of files on a PC or in a single directory (local to the desktop) Clean up unnecessary system, log, and temporary files Limiting of the size of the web browser cache, and cleanup of old web files Defragmenting PC Storage Use of disk cleanup tools Indexing of files by OS for fast searching Updating the date/time of last file access Creation of 8.3 DOS file names and NTFS names Data Backup Policy 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 6

7 Operations Operations Desktop Support Operations Desktop Support Operations Desktop Support Operations Legal/Discovery Printers - Documentation and Processes Printers - Documentation and Backup frequency of desktops with data stored locally Defined Data Recovery window Backup location Testing of backups and restore procedures and speeds USB and Removable Storage Policies USB Storage - Use of Chipset level features to disable some or all USB ports esata and SATA disk ports - Use of Intel X58 Chipset level features to disable some or all SATA ports Use of PGP - WDE (Pretty Good Privacy - Whole Disk Encryption) Review of error logs Capture utilization of key components (CPU, mem, disk, Network) using Perfmon or agent Alerts to IT staff and management when utilization is beyond defined thresholds PC Disaster Recovery Plan PC Load tests Defragmentation Cleanup of un-needed files (obsolete, temp, install files, logs, etc.) Use of the DSKCHK utility Cleanup of un-needed Registry entries Snapshot Files Temporary files Installation file cleanup System Diagnostics Cleaning of components Reseating of components Check condition of cables Check operation of Fans/Cooling of box Inspect software loaded (not just running) on system Inspect running software to identify unauthorized software, virus, spyware, run-away processes, etc. Monitor and minimize startup tasks Quarantine of any PC's involved in any investigation or lawsuits Printer Configuration and Operational Documentation Inventory of printer manufacturers and models in use 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 7

8 Processes Printers - Documentation and Processes Printers - Documentation and Processes Printers - Printers - Printers - Printers - Printers - Printers - Printers - Printers - Acquisition Printers - Acquisition Printers - Acquisition Printers - Acquisition Printers - Operations Printers - Operations Printers - Operations Printers - Operations Who provides support of printer hardware Use of printer management tool(s) utilized (HP, etc.) % of printers less than 24 months old % of printers months old % of printers more than 48 months old Amount of Printer RAM Count of color pages printed per month by printer or user Count of black and white pages printed per month by printer or user NIC speed of printers Matching of printers and expected/actual duty cycles Purchase of Printer supplies Printer standards Standards for Warranty/support contracts Desktop connected printers Network connected printers Use of Print Servers Location of Print Servers Where is printer output rendered - on the client PC/server or print server or printer? Printer Firmware levels Printer driver software Logging of print traffic Engineered printer configurations Labeling of Printers TCP/IP address management/policies of printer devices Printer maintenance Spare printers/redundant printers Disposal of used supplies and end of life equipment Printer supplies inventory 2011 by The Consultants Source, LLC Randy.James@TheConsultantsSource.com (312) Page 8

IT Best Practices Audit - Action Roadmap 1.00

IT Best Practices Audit - Action Roadmap 1.00 Subject Name: Networks Category Name: Wireless Configuration and security Audit Topic: Is the wireless network on a separate VLAN? Importance & Discussion: