IT Documentation Starter Kit

Good documentation is the backbone of reliable IT. This starter kit outlines the most important documents and offers tips on how to create them. Adapt these templates to suit your business.

1. Asset Inventory

Maintain a list of all hardware and software assets, including serial numbers, purchase dates, warranty information and assigned users. This helps track lifecycle and support needs.

2. Network Diagram

Create a visual map of your network topology. Include switches, routers, firewalls, servers and key endpoints. A clear diagram speeds up troubleshooting and planning.

3. Password & Credentials Register

Store administrator and service account credentials in a secure password manager. Record login URLs, usernames and password notes (without the actual password in plain text). Rotate credentials regularly.

4. Service Provider Contacts

Document vendor and support contacts for internet service providers, phone systems, software subscriptions and hardware warranties. Include account numbers and escalation procedures.

5. Procedure Runbooks

Write step‑by‑step guides for common tasks such as creating new user accounts, deploying updates, renewing SSL certificates and responding to incidents. Keep them concise and review annually.

6. Backup & Recovery Plan

Describe your backup schedules, storage locations and restoration processes. Document how to verify backups and perform test restores.

Centralise these documents in a secure repository with version control. Update them when systems change and review them during quarterly business reviews.