VPN Audit Checklist: 10 Important Security Steps

Your VPN provides staff with a secure way to remotely access files and internal services. However, without the right checks in place, a poorly maintained VPN tunnel can become an open door for external threats. To protect your network, running a regular VPN security audit is essential.

Want to get started? This step-by-step VPN audit checklist covers the 10 most important measures to review, helping you strengthen your setup and eliminate security weaknesses before they become real risks.

VPN Audit Checklist: 10 Key Steps for Your VPN Security Audit

1. Check VPN Gateway Settings (VPN Security Audit Step #1)

As the first item on your VPN audit checklist, verify that your VPN gateway is up to date. This device configures the VPN tunnel into your internal network and is a common source of security weaknesses.

Make sure your gateway firmware is current — this ensures all critical VPN security patches have been applied. Also check that the device firewall is enabled and configured according to your organization's network security audit checklist.

2. Review Connection Encryption Settings

Next on your VPN security audit, review the encryption level used by your VPN tunnel. Weak or outdated encryption methods can pose serious vulnerabilities.

Recommended VPN audit checklist items:

• Disable DES and MD5 (insecure algorithms)
• Enable Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS)
• Use Diffie-Hellman (DH) Group 5 or higher

High encryption may slightly impact performance, but it significantly strengthens your overall VPN security posture.

3. Review and Audit VPN User Accounts

An often-overlooked part of a VPN audit checklist is reviewing who has access. Are there old accounts that should be removed? Are shared credentials still in use?

For stronger VPN security audit compliance:

• Remove unused VPN users
• Assign named user accounts to prevent shared logins
• Regularly audit team access in your VPN gateway or VPN client

Tip: Use VPN Tracker TeamCloud to remotely manage and revoke user access as part of your ongoing VPN audits.

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is a must-have for any serious VPN security audit. Even if a password is leaked, 2FA adds a layer of protection.

2FA VPN audit checklist items:

• Enable 2FA for VPN Tracker accounts via authenticator app
• Use gateway-based 2FA methods (Duo, FortiToken, etc.)

More information →

5. Check XAUTH and VPN Password Requirements

Strong passwords are a basic yet critical element of any VPN audit checklist. Use your VPN security audit to verify password length, complexity, and expiration policies.

Recommendations:

• Enforce password length (12+ characters)
• Use mixed case, numbers, and special characters
• Request password changes every 90 days

6. Rotate the Pre-Shared Key (PSK)

Rotating your shared secret or PSK regularly is another key VPN security audit recommendation. This minimizes the risk of key compromise over time.

With VPN Tracker TeamCloud, you can:

• Update the PSK centrally
• Push updates to all users instantly — no manual steps

7. Assess Your VPN Client as Part of the Audit

No VPN audit checklist is complete without a thorough review of your VPN client. Make sure the software your team uses is up to date, secure, and reliable.

Checklist for VPN client assessment:

• Is the app actively maintained with regular updates?
• Is it compatible with your OS versions?
• Does it support 2FA and advanced encryption?
• Is it compliant with your internal VPN security audit policies?

If your current client doesn’t check all the boxes, consider switching to VPN Tracker for Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

8. Monitor mobile security

The increasing use of mobile devices in the workplace alongside a growing demand for quick-access remote work solutions means administrators now also have a new challenge on their hands in managing mobile device security.

In lieu of a secure remote access solution, many users turn to insecure, third party alternatives such as Dropbox, Google Drive or WhatsApp to perform file sharing tasks and in doing so, potentially expose sensitive company data to hackers or other outside threats. The solution? Use a mobile VPN client like VPN Tracker to provide iOS users the same remote access options on their iPhone & iPad as on their Mac.

VPN Tracker provides a secure remote access solution for Mac, iPhone & iPad

Tip: With VPN Tracker for iOS, company connections can be securely synced across Mac, iPhone and iPad - with MDM rollout options also available for large scale deployment.

9. Apply zero trust policies

The zero trust security model has been growing in popularity in recent years - offering organisations an efficient way to prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Your VPN security audit also poses a practical opportunity to review your current VPN policies and see how and where zero trust measures could be applied. Some common zero trust best practises include:

• Role-based connection access (Which connections can be accessed by which team members?)
• Access to connection details (Who in the team needs to know the connection settings?)

VPN Tracker TeamCloud has the infrastructure in place to provide a fully zero trust compliant remote access solution for your organisation. Set up role based user groups to completely control connection access and opt to hide connection settings, giving users access to only the minimum level of information required to perform their tasks.

Adopt zero trust policies by implementing role-based connection access

10. Improve end-user education (bonus)

The more users are made to be aware of security best practises, the easier it will be for you to maintain the security of your network in the long term - i.e. by avoiding potentially harmful activities such as password recycling, falling for phishing emails, and installing unverified apps.

At the end of your audit, consider finding an effective way to share some VPN best practice tips with your team to make them aware of the potential risks involved. For example, you could schedule a team meeting or send a security tips newsletter.

Why choose VPN Tracker for your organization?

VPN Tracker is the best VPN client for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, offering support for major VPN protocols, including IPsec, SonicWall SSL, SonicWall IPsec, Cisco AnyConnect SSL, Fortinet SSL, SSTP, and WireGuard®.

Your benefits with VPN Tracker

• Save time and securely deploy company VPN connections
• Centralized team management with managed connections, groups and notifications, and team audit logs
• Compatibility with enterprise-level VPN gateways, including SonicWall, Cisco, Fortinet, and Sophos
• Zero-Trust compliant with role-based access controls
• Advanced remote rollout with Configuration Profiles & Package Installer
• Single Sign-on (SSO) support
• Unified billing for all users and dedicated "Billing" role for accounting purposes
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