Security & Compliance

The 60-Second Employee Cybersecurity Audit Checklist

Security & Compliance

George Halfkenny

George Halfkenny · Founder, Identity Defense 247

Published 3 min read
October 2026 editorial image for a 60 second employee cybersecurity audit checklist for small business owners, tidy workspace with laptop, notebook and security checklist paperwork on a bright desk, organized calm mood, no readable text
October 2026 editorial image for a 60 second employee cybersecurity audit checklist for small business owners, tidy workspace with laptop, notebook and security checklist paperwork on a bright desk, organized calm mood, no readable text

Security & Compliance

A fast first-pass checklist for account exposure, MFA, and access hygiene, with clear next steps for a deeper review.

George Halfkenny, Founder, Identity Defense 247. Published October 14, 2026. 3 min read.

Treat sixty seconds as triage, not certification

A quick check can help prioritize a deeper review. It cannot establish that every employee account is secure or prove compliance. Use these prompts to identify gaps, assign an owner, and decide what to investigate next.

Start with identity and access

Ask your IT owner these questions. If an answer is unknown, mark it for follow-up rather than assuming it is covered.

Do we have an up-to-date inventory of employee accounts and administrators?

Is MFA required on email, remote access, and critical business applications?

Are employees using unique work passwords or passkeys?

Have departed employees and unused shared accounts been removed?

Check exposure and response readiness

Review exposure alerts from sources you are authorized to use. Avoid collecting or circulating leaked passwords. Verify signals with your IT team before taking action.

Is someone responsible for reviewing credential exposure alerts?

Can we reset credentials and revoke sessions promptly?

Do employees know how to report an unexpected MFA prompt or suspicious email?

Do we keep a record of findings, actions, and unresolved risks?

Turn the checklist into a repeatable review

For each gap, record the affected service, the responsible person, and the next action. Prioritize privileged accounts and email access, then expand the review to the rest of your environment.

Repeat the review after staff changes or security incidents. For customer or regulatory requirements, map evidence to the relevant controls and seek qualified advice when needed.