Plan a WizTree Audit of a Network Share

A network audit should account for permissions, network activity and the share owner's retention rules.

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Short answer: A network audit should account for permissions, network activity and the share owner's retention rules.

By DiskAnalyzer editorial resource · Published 2026-10-05 · Documentation reviewed 2026-10-05

When this guide is useful

Schedule a large inventory outside the busiest period when possible. Keep filenames private and document the user context so the storage administrator knows what the report actually covers.

Recommended workflow

  1. Confirm authorization and scope.
  2. Scan a specific share or folder.
  3. Note inaccessible paths.
  4. Share findings with the storage owner before cleanup.

Limits and precautions

A client's view can omit data it cannot access, so do not treat it as a server-wide total.

Keep a useful record

Record the drive or folder, scan time, application version and the measurement you used. Keep observations separate from proposed changes. If a result leads to a cleanup, record the file owner, backup status and actual free-space change. This makes the result easier to review and helps explain differences in a later scan.

Quick review checklist

QuestionWhat to record
What did you inspect?The exact volume or folder, not just the PC name.
What action is justified?Share findings with the storage owner before cleanup.
What could go wrong?A client's view can omit data it cannot access, so do not treat it as a server-wide total.

Next steps

If the result is unclear, preserve the current report and narrow the investigation to one folder or application. Make one approved change at a time, then repeat the relevant measurement. Avoid presenting a predicted saving as a measured outcome.

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Sources and verification

Prepared from public documentation and practical storage-audit reasoning. No hands-on Windows test or independent binary inspection was performed for this publication. Menu names and package requirements can change; check the developer documentation for your installed version.