Spring Cleaning Your Clinic’s Tech: Start With User Accounts
Posted by Computer Solutions on March 2, 2026 When most veterinary clinics think about spring cleaning, they picture supply closets,
Learn morePosted by Computer Solutions on March 2, 2026
When most veterinary clinics think about spring cleaning, they picture supply closets, expired medications, and reorganizing storage.
Very few think about user accounts.
But if you want a cleaner, safer, more efficient network, the smartest place to start your spring technology reset is with access. A simple veterinary IT audit focused on user accounts can immediately reduce risk and improve system performance.
Let’s walk through why this matters and how to do it right.
Why User Accounts Deserve Attention
Every time someone joins your team, they get access.
Email. PIMS. Shared drives. Scheduling tools. Lab portals. Maybe even banking or payment systems.
And every time someone leaves?
That access should disappear.
But in busy veterinary practices, offboarding often falls through the cracks. Accounts stay active. Passwords never change. Former employees technically still have the ability to log in.
That’s not just untidy. It’s risky.
A focused veterinary IT audit of user accounts helps you answer three critical questions:
- Who has access to what?
- Does each person still need that access?
- Has access been removed for anyone who left?
You might be surprised by what you find.
The Most Common Problems We See
When we review veterinary clinic systems, we consistently find:
- Former employees still active in Microsoft 365
- Shared logins that multiple people use daily
- Admin-level permissions granted “temporarily” and never revoked
- Generic accounts like “FrontDesk1” with no clear ownership
- Vendors with remote access that was never disabled
None of these issues happen because someone is careless. They happen because clinics move fast.
But small oversights compound over time. Cleaning them up doesn’t just improve security, it simplifies your systems.
Step-by-Step: How to Audit Your User Accounts
You don’t need to be technical to start this process.
Here’s a simple framework you can follow.
Step 1: Export a Full User List
Start with:
- Email accounts
- PIMS users
- Remote access/VPN users
- Cloud storage users
- Payment system access
Make one master list.
This alone often reveals duplicates or forgotten accounts.
Step 2: Cross-Reference With Payroll
Compare that list against your current employee roster.
If someone is not actively employed, their access should be removed immediately.
This is one of the fastest wins in any veterinary IT audit.
Step 3: Review Permission Levels
Not everyone needs admin access.
Ask:
- Who can install software?
- Who can access financial data?
- Who can change system settings?
Restrict permissions to only what each role truly requires.
Step 4: Eliminate Shared Logins
Shared credentials make it impossible to track accountability.
Each staff member should have their own login. It protects your clinic and protects your team.
Step 5: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
If MFA is not active for email and remote access, now is the time.
Passwords alone are no longer enough.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
Spring cleaning user accounts isn’t just about organization.
It directly impacts:
- Cybersecurity
- Data privacy
- Ransomware prevention
- Vendor access control
- Regulatory risk
- Insurance eligibility
Many cyber insurance providers now require proof of access control and MFA enforcement. A structured veterinary IT audit makes renewal much easier.
More importantly, it reduces the number of doors attackers can use to enter your network.
What Happens If You Skip This?
Inactive accounts become easy targets.
If a former employee’s credentials leak online, attackers can log in without raising suspicion. From there, they explore quietly.
Cleaning up user access removes those hidden entry points.
It’s not flashy work. But it’s powerful.
Make This Your March Reset
You don’t need to overhaul your entire network this month.
Start small.
Clean up user accounts. Tighten permissions. Remove access that no longer belongs.
It’s one of the simplest ways to improve security, reduce clutter, and take control of your technology.
If you’d like help conducting a structured veterinary IT audit, we work with veterinary practices across the United States to streamline user access, enforce security standards, and keep systems organized year-round.
Call 609.514.0100 or visit welinku.com to schedule a spring IT review.
Because a clean network runs better and safer than a cluttered one.
Want to learn more about veterinary IT and cybersecurity? Check out last week’s post and subscribe here, or follow along with our LinkedIn newsletter here!
