What should IT prepare before a new hire's first day?

IT should provision the device, create email and accounts, grant role-based access, and configure security like multi-factor authentication. Testing logins beforehand prevents day-one delays. The checklist ensures each item is ready and verified before the employee starts.

How do I grant access securely during onboarding?

Follow least-privilege principles by granting only the access the role genuinely requires, and document each grant. Avoid broad, convenient permissions that create risk. The checklist supports scoped access and a record you can audit or revoke later.

How does IT onboarding connect to offboarding?

A documented record of what was provisioned makes offboarding fast and complete, ensuring no access lingers after someone leaves. Without it, orphaned accounts become security gaps. The checklist's documentation step feeds directly into clean offboarding.

Free IT Onboarding Checklist Checklist

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IT Onboarding Checklist

Employee Name:

Role:

Start Date:

IT Contact:

Hardware Provisioning

Order and configure laptop or desktopSet up monitors and docking stationProvide company mobile phone if requiredPrepare headset and video conferencing equipmentLabel and register all equipment assets

Accounts and Access

Create corporate email accountSet up Active Directory or identity providerProvision VPN access for remote connectivityGrant access to shared drives and foldersEnable multi-factor authenticationCreate accounts for required SaaS platforms

Software Installation

Install standard productivity suiteInstall communication and messaging toolsDeploy endpoint security softwareInstall role-specific applicationsConfigure browser extensions and bookmarks

Security Setup

Review IT security policies with employeeEnroll device in mobile device managementSet up disk encryption on all devicesConfigure automatic software update policiesAssign required cybersecurity training modules

Collaboration and Handoff

Add employee to relevant email groupsAdd to appropriate chat channels and teamsSet up shared calendar accessConfigure video conferencing integrationsTest all accounts and system accessVerify printing and scanning functionalityDocument all assigned assets and licensesShare IT support contact and ticket processConfirm employee can access IT knowledge base

The complete guide

Everything you need to know

01What Is the IT Onboarding Checklist?

An IT onboarding checklist covers every technical setup task needed to get a new hire working securely. It spans hardware provisioning, account and email creation, software and tool access, security configuration, VPN or network setup, and access permissions based on role. It gives IT and HR a shared list so a new employee logs in on day one with the right tools and nothing more than they need.

02Why Use an IT Onboarding Checklist

Technical setup delays are a top source of unproductive first days, and rushed access grants create security risk. A checklist ensures accounts, devices, and permissions are ready before the start date and scoped to the role. It supports least-privilege access, reducing exposure if credentials are compromised. It also creates a record of what was provisioned, which makes offboarding and audits far cleaner later.

03How to Use This IT Onboarding Checklist

Trigger IT setup as soon as a start date is confirmed, ideally days ahead. Provision hardware, create accounts, and grant only the access the role requires. Configure security settings like multi-factor authentication and device encryption before handover. Test that logins and core tools work before day one. Document every access granted so it can be reviewed periodically and cleanly revoked when the employee leaves.

IT Onboarding Checklist

IT Onboarding Checklist

Hardware Provisioning

Accounts and Access

Software Installation

Security Setup

Collaboration and Handoff

Everything you need to know

01What Is the IT Onboarding Checklist?

02Why Use an IT Onboarding Checklist

03How to Use This IT Onboarding Checklist

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