What is network documentation?

Do you experience prolonged downtime regularly with your network? Find out what is network documentation! Its benefits help organisations troubleshoot network errors, reduce the time it takes to bounce back, and even scale into new territories. Find out why it should be a priority for your organisation.

UNDERSTANDING THE NETWORK DOCUMENTATION PROCESS

At first glance, network documentation may seem straightforward. It’s as simple as keeping records of your network, right? However, while the idea behind it is simple, the process is complex, even if you have a smaller infrastructure.

Network documentation acts as your network’s blueprint, providing a roadmap for efficient management. To do this, you’ll need to gather and organise a great deal of information about your network and regularly ensure it’s up-to-date. This includes details about its physical and logical layout, the configuration of its devices, IP address allocations, and much more. The process may sound overwhelming, but you can work with a professional or use network documentation software to simplify the process.

5 KEY BENEFITS OF NETWORK DOCUMENTATION

Understanding documentation is critical to maintaining an organised network infrastructure, whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise. Here are five advantages it can give your business.

1. MINIMISED DOWNTIME

Network issues can be very consequential for businesses, as the more downtime you face, the more productivity you lose. Luckily, troubleshooting is made easy with well-documented network diagrams and configurations. They can allow for swift identification of the root cause, quickly help you carry out recovery plans, and reduce the time it takes to get things back up and running.

2. GREATER ABILITY TO PLAN

Making informed decisions about upgrades, replacing outdated technology, or scaling your network as your business grows is challenging if you don’t know its ins and outs. However, proper documentation can help you comprehensively understand its infrastructure, allowing you to plan for capacity requirements and identify outdated devices.

3. EASIER COMPLIANCE

Network documentation makes complying with regulatory standards and industry-specific requirements much easier. It provides the necessary documentation to demonstrate adherence to security and operational guidelines during audits.

4. ENHANCED SECURITY

Proper documentation allows network administrators to identify potential security vulnerabilities, weak points, or outdated configurations before they cause problems. By keeping track of changes and ensuring compliance with security best practices, and proactively addressing security risks, you can maintain a secure environment for your business data.

5. EASIER TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE

By keeping track of important details, you’re creating a valuable resource that can be shared with team members, new employees, and IT professionals who may need to become familiar with your network. When everything is documented in a clear and accessible manner, it becomes much simpler for people to understand and learn about its infrastructure. Having these documents will allow for smoother and more effective collaboration and help you build a more cohesive network management team.

NETWORK SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESSES

Do you need help maintaining your network? Computer Troubleshooters has a team of certified experts ready to build a solution that fits your business. We have the experience, industry knowledge, and resources necessary to ensure your network runs securely and efficiently.

Get in touch to take the next step toward improving your network management.

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Beware: Is that Microsoft… or a phishing attempt?

by Zeljko Ruskaj • 31 July 2025

You can trust Microsoft, right? Well, what if it isn’t really Microsoft at all? Cyber criminals are impersonating the tech giant. Don’t fall for it… Check out our latest blog #CyberSecurity #PhishingScam #MicrosoftPhishing

Criminals can access your accounts without your password

by Zeljko Ruskaj • 23 July 2025

Have you ever felt like just when you’ve nailed your cyber security – BAM! – something new comes along to throw a spanner in the works? That’s exactly what’s happening right now. There’s a new scam doing the rounds. And it’s catching out businesses just like yours. The worst part? Cyber criminals don’t even need your password. Scary… It’s called device code phishing. It’s a clever trick that’s becoming more and more popular. Microsoft recently flagged a wave of these attacks, and we’re likely to see many more. This one’s different to the usual phishing scams you’ve probably heard about. Normally, phishing is all about tricking people into giving away their usernames and passwords on fake websites. But with device code phishing, scammers play a smarter game. Instead of stealing your password, they get you to voluntarily give them access to your account. And they do it using real Microsoft login pages, so it looks totally legit. It usually starts with a convincing email. Maybe it looks like it’s from your HR person, or a colleague, inviting you to a Microsoft Teams meeting. You click the link, and it takes you to a real Microsoft login screen. Nothing seems out of place. You’re asked to enter a code. Just a short one, called a “device code.” This code is supplied in the email, and you’re told it’s needed to join the meeting or finish logging in. Here’s the catch: By entering that code, you’re not logging yourself in… you’re logging them in. You’re unknowingly giving the attacker access to your Microsoft account on their device. And because the login goes through the proper channels, it can even bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA). Yep, even if you’ve got extra security in place, they might still get in. Once they’re in, they can do a lot of damage. Reading your emails, accessing your files, even using your account to trick others in your company. It’s like handing over the keys to your office and you don’t even realise it. It’s dangerous because it doesn’t look suspicious. You’re on a real Microsoft site, not some suspicious fake. You didn’t click a weird link or enter your password into a phishing form. Everything looks above board… except it’s not. And because attackers are using legitimate Microsoft login flows, traditional security tools don’t always catch it. Plus, once they’re in, they can stay in. They don’t need to keep logging in if they’ve captured your session token (that’s a sort of digital "pass" that keeps you logged in behind the scenes). So even changing your password won’t necessarily kick them out right away. A big question then: How can you protect your business? Start by getting your team to be extra cautious with login requests. Especially ones that involve entering codes. If you get a device code from someone, stop and think: Did I request this? Do I know for sure this is real? If you’re not sure, don’t go through with it. Use a separate method, like a direct phone call or your company’s messaging system, to double-check with the person who sent the email. Remember, real Microsoft logins don’t involve someone else giving you a code to enter. If that ever happens, it’s a red flag. From a technical side, your IT team (or IT provider) can also tighten things up. If your business doesn’t need device code login as part of its daily operations, it’s safest to turn it off altogether. They can also put in place extra security rules that only allow logins from trusted locations or devices. And finally, keep training your people. Good cyber security is about awareness. If your team knows what to look out for, they’re much less likely to fall for these kinds of tricks. Can we help you tighten up your security? Get in touch.