IT Perfection · Network Engineering Tools

Free High Availability Assessment

High Availability Assessment from IT Perfection helps business owners, IT managers, and technical teams review core switches, firewalls, power, applications and related operational risk.

Created by Ali Hassani, CISO - 25+ years of IT, cybersecurity, compliance, Microsoft infrastructure, network security, and IT operations experience.

Assessment overview

What this tool reviews

High Availability Assessment from IT Perfection helps business owners, IT managers, and technical teams review core switches, firewalls, power, applications and related operational risk.

The scorecard is built for business owners, IT managers, and administrators who need to confirm evidence quality, access boundaries, logging coverage, exception status, and remediation priority before a project, audit, renewal, or support review.

Important disclaimer

This tool is for initial guidance only and does not replace a professional cybersecurity audit, compliance assessment, penetration test, architecture review, or legal/compliance review.

Interactive scorecard

High Availability Assessment scorecard

Answer each item using available configuration records, access lists, logs, ticket history, screenshots, backup evidence, or vendor console data. Results are calculated locally in the browser and are not submitted to IT Perfection.

1. Core switches

VLAN segmentation enforcement, trunk hygiene, and unauthorized device detection. Evidence to review: review running configuration, rule hit counts, stale objects, topology diagrams, firmware levels, remote-access groups, and change tickets.

Do the records for core switches identify the control owner, approved baseline, evidence location, and most recent validation date?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Core switches must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for ACLs, NAT, zone policy, VLAN tagging, trunk ports, route tables, VPN profiles, split tunneling, 802.1X, WPA3, guest isolation.

Business impact

Weak core switches controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. It can increase remediation cost and delay recovery.

What Core switches are

Core switches are the high availability assessment control area that defines expected configuration, ownership, supporting evidence, and review cadence. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For core switches, the relevant evidence usually includes review running configuration, rule hit counts, stale objects, topology diagrams, firmware levels, remote-access groups, and change tickets. Review the related ACLs, NAT, zone policy, VLAN tagging, trunk ports, route tables, VPN profiles, split tunneling, 802.1X, WPA3, guest isolation, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include firewall manager, switch/router CLI exports, wireless controller, NetFlow/syslog, VPN gateway logs, network monitoring platform.

2. Firewalls

Traffic filtering intent, zone boundaries, and change-control discipline. Evidence to review: review running configuration, rule hit counts, stale objects, topology diagrams, firmware levels, remote-access groups, and change tickets.

Can the team prove that firewalls matches the intended configuration and was reviewed after material changes?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Firewall policy is the boundary between trusted and untrusted networks, making clarity and consistency here essential for secure operations. Review evidence for ACLs, NAT, zone policy, VLAN tagging, trunk ports, route tables, VPN profiles, split tunneling, 802.1X, WPA3, guest isolation.

Business impact

Overbroad rules create lateral movement opportunities and expose management planes or business apps to unauthorized traffic. Exposure increases when exceptions lack owners, alerts are not reviewed, or recovery evidence is missing.

What Firewalls are

Firewalls are the operating area where policy, configuration, monitoring, and support records need to agree with the actual environment. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For firewalls, the relevant evidence usually includes review running configuration, rule hit counts, stale objects, topology diagrams, firmware levels, remote-access groups, and change tickets. Review the related ACLs, NAT, zone policy, VLAN tagging, trunk ports, route tables, VPN profiles, split tunneling, 802.1X, WPA3, guest isolation, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include firewall manager, switch/router CLI exports, wireless controller, NetFlow/syslog, VPN gateway logs, network monitoring platform.

3. Power

Review power design, evidence location, control ownership, and recurring validation records. Evidence to review: collect current-state screenshots or exports for power, plus ownership, exception, and change records.

Are exceptions, ownership, monitoring records, and response evidence for power documented well enough for audit or incident response?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Power must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for control objective, evidence trail, exception handling, review cadence, owner accountability, validation record.

Business impact

Weak power controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. Risk increases when ownership, evidence, or exceptions are not documented.

What Power is

Power is the technical and administrative control set used to prove this part of the environment is configured, maintained, and reviewed. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For power, the relevant evidence usually includes collect current-state screenshots or exports for power, plus ownership, exception, and change records. Review the related control objective, evidence trail, exception handling, review cadence, owner accountability, validation record, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include admin console, ticketing system, monitoring platform, configuration export, documentation repository.

4. Applications

Review applications design, evidence location, control ownership, and recurring validation records. Evidence to review: collect current-state screenshots or exports for applications, plus ownership, exception, and change records.

Do the records for applications identify the control owner, approved baseline, evidence location, and most recent validation date?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Applications must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for control objective, evidence trail, exception handling, review cadence, owner accountability, validation record.

Business impact

Weak applications controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. It often becomes visible during audits, renewals, or outside reviews.

What Applications are

Applications are the high availability assessment control area that defines expected configuration, ownership, supporting evidence, and review cadence. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For applications, the relevant evidence usually includes collect current-state screenshots or exports for applications, plus ownership, exception, and change records. Review the related control objective, evidence trail, exception handling, review cadence, owner accountability, validation record, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include admin console, ticketing system, monitoring platform, configuration export, documentation repository.

5. Documentation

Operational runbooks, evidence repositories, and procedure accuracy. Evidence to review: sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners.

Can the team prove that documentation matches the intended configuration and was reviewed after material changes?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Documentation must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs.

Business impact

Weak documentation controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. It can increase remediation cost and delay recovery.

What Documentation is

Documentation is the operating area where policy, configuration, monitoring, and support records need to agree with the actual environment. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For documentation, the relevant evidence usually includes sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners. Review the related SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include ticketing system, documentation portal, change calendar, asset inventory, monitoring alerts, configuration exports.

6. Monitoring

Telemetry collection, alert thresholds, and escalation workflows. Evidence to review: inspect zone changes, resolver paths, DHCP scope utilization, alert thresholds, log retention, NTP synchronization, and monitoring coverage gaps.

Are exceptions, ownership, monitoring records, and response evidence for monitoring documented well enough for audit or incident response?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Monitoring must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for forwarders, secure dynamic updates, DHCP failover, reservations, lease scope utilization, syslog, SNMP, NetFlow, SIEM correlation.

Business impact

Weak monitoring controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. Risk increases when ownership, evidence, or exceptions are not documented.

What Monitoring is

Monitoring is the technical and administrative control set used to prove this part of the environment is configured, maintained, and reviewed. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For monitoring, the relevant evidence usually includes inspect zone changes, resolver paths, DHCP scope utilization, alert thresholds, log retention, NTP synchronization, and monitoring coverage gaps. Review the related forwarders, secure dynamic updates, DHCP failover, reservations, lease scope utilization, syslog, SNMP, NetFlow, SIEM correlation, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include DNS/DHCP consoles, SIEM, syslog server, network monitoring dashboards, packet captures, availability reports.

7. Ownership

RACI clarity for approvals, maintenance, and review obligations. Evidence to review: sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners.

Do the records for ownership identify the control owner, approved baseline, evidence location, and most recent validation date?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Ownership must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs.

Business impact

Weak ownership controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. Risk increases when ownership, evidence, or exceptions are not documented.

What Ownership is

Ownership is the high availability assessment control area that defines expected configuration, ownership, supporting evidence, and review cadence. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For ownership, the relevant evidence usually includes sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners. Review the related SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include ticketing system, documentation portal, change calendar, asset inventory, monitoring alerts, configuration exports.

8. Testing

Validation frequency, test evidence quality, and remediation verification. Evidence to review: sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners.

Can the team prove that testing matches the intended configuration and was reviewed after material changes?

Review guidance, technical context, and business impact
Why it matters

Testing must be traceable to an approved configuration, named owner, and dated validation record. Without that evidence, teams cannot prove the control is configured as intended or determine whether exceptions are still justified. Review evidence for SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs.

Business impact

Weak testing controls can leave stale access, unmonitored changes, unsupported assets, or untested recovery paths in production. The result is longer triage time, weaker audit evidence, and higher remediation cost. It often becomes visible during audits, renewals, or outside reviews.

What Testing is

Testing is the operating area where policy, configuration, monitoring, and support records need to agree with the actual environment. A reviewer should be able to confirm the current state from system exports, admin-console settings, monitoring records, tickets, and maintained documentation. For testing, the relevant evidence usually includes sample recent tickets and changes, verify approval and rollback records, compare documentation against production, and confirm named owners. Review the related SLA, RACI, change advisory review, rollback plan, runbook accuracy, configuration management, evidence repository, operational KPIs, then confirm which systems or users are affected, which logs prove the control is operating, and how exceptions are approved, tracked, and revisited. Common review sources include ticketing system, documentation portal, change calendar, asset inventory, monitoring alerts, configuration exports.

Printable report

Downloadable and printable High Availability Assessment report

Free High Availability Assessment Report
Ali Hassani, CISO and IT infrastructure consultant

Ali Hassani, CISO

Created by Ali Hassani, CISO - 25+ years of IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and infrastructure experience.

Certifications: CISSP, CCISO, CCNP, CCNA, MCSE, MCSA Security, MCITP, MCP, and MCTS. View Ali's IT Perfection profile.

Complete the assessment and calculate results to populate this report with your score, findings, recommendations, and priority roadmap.

Client support resources

IT Perfection can review the evidence, validate findings, and help prioritize remediation for managed IT, Microsoft 365, Azure, endpoint security, backup, servers, network infrastructure, and co-managed IT.

Disclaimer: This free tool is a preliminary self-assessment and educational resource. It does not replace a professional cybersecurity audit, compliance assessment, penetration test, or legal/compliance review.

Ali Hassani, CISO and IT infrastructure specialist

Ali Hassani expertise

High Availability Assessment guidance backed by real infrastructure experience

Ali Hassani is a cybersecurity consultant, virtual CISO, network security engineer, and IT infrastructure specialist with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations design, secure, audit, and support business IT environments.