Daily IT Operations Checklist

What this checklist is

This is a daily IT operations checklist used to keep critical systems compliant, available, and secure. It pairs a pass through the server room with a set of administrative tasks that make sure backups, communications, and support queues are in order before the day gets busy. The checklist is filled in as you go, so you end up with a dated log of what was checked, what was found, and what needs follow up.

Why daily IT operations checks matter

IT infrastructure degrades quietly. A single failed backup, a warning on a UPS, an overheating server room, or a locked off helpdesk queue may not cause a visible problem until it is too late. Checking the same things every day catches small deviations early. It also leaves a trail that makes handovers, audits, and incident reviews easier, because there is a clear record of what was normal and when.

What a good daily IT operations check covers

The checklist is split into three areas. The daily IT infrastructure and operations audit sets out who conducted the inspection, where, and when. The server room daily inspection then verifies physical and environmental conditions: whether the door was locked on arrival, whether lighting fixtures work, whether server, SAN, and network switch indicator lights are normal, whether there are active UPS warnings, and whether the air conditioning is operational and set to 18°C. It also covers ADSL dial tone, PABX and M2 voicemail, backup status and tape preparation, backup verification, and virtual and physical server status. The daily administrative tasks cover conference phone battery and dial tone, printer queue clearing, email and voicemail review, helpdesk ticket updates, and IT documentation and task tracking.

Server room inspection in practice

When you enter the server room, confirm the door was locked and secure. Then work around the room: check lighting, confirm all hardware indicator lights are blue and normal, check the UPS for warnings, check the SAN and network switches, and read the environmental sensor temperature. Record the exact temperature figure. On the way out, recheck the door and confirm it is locked again. Most of these checks are answered Yes, No, or N/A, with a comment field for anything that needs explaining.

Administrative task checks in practice

The admin side of the checklist is about closing loops. Review the previous night's backup job status and note the byte count in the maintenance notebook. Prepare and insert backup tapes for the coming days. Run the verification test for the daily or monthly backup. Check the conference phone in the Wattle Room for battery level and dial tone. Clear print jobs from the HPM3035 MFP printer. Review email and voicemail and action what needs actioning. Look through the helpdesk ticketing system and follow up pending items. Review IT documentation and task tracking, following up anything outstanding.

Using the checklist as a daily routine

Run the checklist at the same point each day so the record is consistent. Answer each question as you physically verify it rather than from memory. Use the comment fields to capture readings, observations, and anything you cannot resolve immediately. Where the item does not apply, mark N/A. Complete the sign off at the end, including the finished time and the real inspection start and end dates, so the log is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

The checklist covers a daily audit of infrastructure and operations, a server room inspection, and daily administrative tasks. Server room checks look at door security, lighting, server, SAN and network switch indicator lights, UPS warnings, air conditioning temperature, ADSL dial tone, PABX and M2 voicemail, backup job status, backup tape preparation, backup verification testing, virtual machines and physical servers, and whether the room is secured on departure. Administrative checks cover the Wattle Room conference phone battery and dial tone, clearing print jobs from the HPM3035 MFP (Community Services) printer, reviewing email and voicemail, updating helpdesk tickets, and reviewing documentation and task tracking.

The daily inspection verifies the physical and environmental conditions of the server room, including lighting, hardware indicator lights, UPS alerts and air conditioning. The daily administrative checks confirm that backups have run and are prepared, that communication systems are working, that print jobs are cleared, and that email, voicemail, helpdesk tickets and documentation are reviewed and updated. Together these checks give you a repeatable daily record of system compliance and infrastructure performance.

The checks are grouped into three sections: a daily IT infrastructure and operations audit, a server room daily inspection, and daily IT operations administrative tasks. Record details such as the person conducting the inspection, the date and time, the location, temperature readings, battery levels for the conference phone, backup status, and comments. Many items use a Yes, No or N/A answer scale.

Written by

Arne Reis

Founder

Process optimizer with 25 years of expertise, focused on operational excellence in quality, maintenance, EHS, and commissioning. Emphasizes innovative solutions and top-quality standards.

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