A new employee’s first morning should not disappear into password resets and a search for the right laptop charger. A short IT checklist helps you get the essentials ready and makes the next hire easier too.
Confirm what the role needs
Ask the manager which applications, shared folders, mailboxes and equipment the person will use. Decide who approves access and who will complete the setup. Include a start date so accounts and licences can be prepared at the right time.
Use an individual account for the employee. Avoid handing over a former staff member’s login: it makes ownership, access reviews and later account removal harder to manage.
Prepare the device
Check the laptop or desktop, charger, screen and accessories. Install approved applications and available updates, and confirm the organisation’s device protection and backup arrangements are working. Record the asset details and who receives it.
Test the actual work: connect to the required services, open a sample document and try a video meeting. If the employee works remotely, plan how they will receive equipment and get help signing in.
Give access deliberately
Grant the permissions required for the role and have the manager confirm them. Keep administrator access restricted. Set up multi-factor authentication where available and explain how to recognise unexpected sign-in prompts.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre’s small business Windows guide covers practical protections including MFA and backups.
Show them where work belongs
Explain which folders or services hold company files, how sharing should work and where to report suspicious messages. Give the employee a clear support contact and a way to report a lost device promptly.
Deliver initial account access through your approved secure process. Do not leave reusable passwords in a shared spreadsheet or send an entire set of credentials together in a casual message.
Review after the first week
Check for missing access, unused licences and equipment problems. Keep the checklist with your business procedures and update it when the role or tools change. Include an exit checklist too, so access and equipment can be recovered when someone leaves.
For help making onboarding repeatable, explore The Tech Bloke’s managed IT services or contact us about your Sunshine Coast business.