Warehouse Security Audit Checklist: How to Evaluate a 3PL Without Guesswork

Warehouse security audits usually fail in one of two ways. Either they collapse into vague reassurances that everything is "secure," or they drown in technical controls that do not map cleanly to real-world risk. Neither outcome helps a brand decide whether a 3PL can actually protect inventory, data, and operations under pressure.

A good warehouse security audit checklist exists to force specificity. It replaces impressions with evidence and turns broad claims into observable conditions. Most importantly, it helps ecommerce teams understand what they are really buying when they outsource fulfillment: not just labor and space, but custody and control.

The checklist below is designed to be printed, carried, and used. It is organized around what can be verified on-site, what must be demonstrated in process, and what should be documented in writing. If a 3PL cannot engage comfortably with these questions, that hesitation is itself a signal.

How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is meant to be used in three passes.

First, review it internally to decide which items are non-negotiable versus contextual for your business. Second, use it during conversations and site visits to observe how the 3PL answers, not just what they say. Third, require written follow-up for any item that relies on policy, logging, or exception handling rather than physical controls.

Do not treat every unchecked item as a deal-breaker. Treat clusters of uncertainty as risk.

Facility Access and Perimeter Security

These controls determine who can physically enter the warehouse and how that access is monitored.

- [ ] Controlled entry points with badge or credential access
- [ ] Visitor check-in process with identification verification
- [ ] Visitor badges that are visually distinct from employee badges
- [ ] Escort requirements for visitors and vendors
- [ ] Clearly defined restricted areas within the facility
- [ ] Physical barriers separating warehouse operations from offices
- [ ] Exterior lighting sufficient to deter unauthorized access
- [ ] Fencing or controlled perimeter around the building where applicable
- [ ] Loading dock access controls outside of active shipping windows

Ask to see how access is granted, revoked, and reviewed. A mature operation can show you how yesterday's termination affects today's access list.

Surveillance and Monitoring

Cameras do not prevent incidents by themselves; they provide accountability after something goes wrong. The question is whether the footage is usable.

- [ ] Video surveillance covering all entry and exit points
- [ ] Camera coverage of pick, pack, and staging areas
- [ ] Camera coverage of high-value inventory zones
- [ ] Clear camera placement with no obvious blind spots
- [ ] Footage retention period defined and documented
- [ ] Footage accessible within a defined response time
- [ ] Monitoring responsibilities assigned, not assumed
- [ ] Signage indicating video surveillance is in use

Ask how often cameras are reviewed proactively versus only after incidents. Security that is never looked at tends to fail quietly.

Inventory Controls and Chain of Custody

Inventory security is not only about theft; it is about knowing where product is and who last touched it.

- [ ] Defined receiving process with documented counts
- [ ] Inventory reconciliation procedures for discrepancies
- [ ] Segregation of damaged, returned, and sellable goods
- [ ] Restricted access to high-value or regulated inventory
- [ ] Cycle count schedules and tolerance thresholds
- [ ] Investigation workflow for shrinkage events
- [ ] Audit trails linking inventory movement to individual users
- [ ] Clear escalation paths for unresolved variances

Ask for a real example of a shrinkage investigation and how it concluded. Hypothetical answers hide operational gaps.

Employee Screening and Training

Most warehouse incidents involve insiders, not intruders. Screening and training shape behavior long before controls are tested.

- [ ] Pre-employment background checks appropriate to role
- [ ] Documented onboarding security training
- [ ] Periodic refresher training on security procedures
- [ ] Clear code of conduct covering inventory handling
- [ ] Separation of duties for sensitive tasks
- [ ] Defined disciplinary process for security violations
- [ ] Process for revoking access immediately upon termination

Ask who is responsible for training completion tracking and how often it is audited.

Operational Segmentation and Client Isolation

Shared warehouses introduce shared risk. Segmentation reduces the blast radius when something goes wrong.

- [ ] Physical or logical separation between client inventories
- [ ] Client-specific access controls in systems
- [ ] Restricted ability to view or handle other clients' goods
- [ ] Segmented staging and packing areas where required
- [ ] Documented procedures preventing order commingling

Ask how the operation prevents mistakes during peak volume, not how it handles them afterward.

Systems Access and Device Security

Warehouse security increasingly depends on the systems running handhelds, terminals, and integrations.

- [ ] Unique user credentials for warehouse systems
- [ ] Prohibition of shared logins
- [ ] Role-based access aligned to job function
- [ ] Automatic session timeouts on shared devices
- [ ] Device inventory and assignment tracking
- [ ] Process for lost or stolen device response
- [ ] Logging of system access and critical actions

Ask how often access rights are reviewed and who approves exceptions.

Incident Detection and Response

Security controls matter less than what happens when they fail. Response speed and clarity determine impact.

- [ ] Documented incident response procedures
- [ ] Clear definition of what constitutes a security incident
- [ ] Assigned incident response roles and contacts
- [ ] Internal escalation timelines defined
- [ ] Client notification procedures documented
- [ ] Post-incident review and corrective action process
- [ ] Evidence preservation procedures

Ask how many incidents occurred in the last year and what changed as a result. Zero incidents is rarely the correct answer.

Vendor and Third-Party Access

Security risk enters warehouses through maintenance crews, carriers, and temporary labor.

- [ ] Vetting process for third-party vendors
- [ ] Temporary access controls for contractors
- [ ] Defined scope and duration for vendor access
- [ ] Supervision requirements for non-employees
- [ ] Documentation of third-party incidents

Ask whether vendors inherit the same security expectations as employees or operate under looser rules.

Documentation, Audits, and Evidence

If it is not documented, it will not survive turnover, growth, or stress.

- [ ] Written warehouse security policy
- [ ] Documented procedures aligned to that policy
- [ ] Internal audit schedule for security controls
- [ ] Evidence retained for audits and investigations
- [ ] Willingness to share relevant audit summaries
- [ ] Change management for security procedures

Ask how often policies are updated and what triggered the last revision.

Regulatory and Special Handling Considerations

Some products require more than general security hygiene.

- [ ] Procedures for regulated or controlled goods
- [ ] Compliance with applicable HAZMAT requirements
- [ ] Secure storage for sensitive product categories
- [ ] Training specific to regulated inventory
- [ ] Incident reporting aligned to regulatory obligations

Ask how these requirements are enforced on a bad day, not just documented on a good one.

Red Flags to Watch For

These are patterns that often signal deeper issues.

- Security answers framed entirely as "industry standard"
- Reluctance to show real artifacts or logs
- Overreliance on cameras without process controls
- Inconsistent answers across staff levels
- Security described as IT's problem or operations' problem, but not both

Red flags do not require confrontation; they require follow-up.

How to Interpret Your Results

A warehouse security audit checklist is not a scoring exercise. It is a conversation structure. Strong 3PLs use it to explain how their systems work under stress. Weak ones use it to deflect.

What you are looking for is not perfection, but coherence. Controls should align with processes, and processes should be reinforced by training and accountability. When those elements reinforce each other, security becomes routine rather than reactive.

That is what protects inventory, data, and confidence at scale.

FAQ

Should every item be a hard requirement?
No. Some controls depend on product risk, volume, and regulatory exposure.

Can this checklist replace a formal audit?
No. It is a screening and evaluation tool, not a certification.

How often should this be revisited?
Whenever volume, product mix, or fulfillment geography changes materially.

Who should use this checklist?
Operations leaders, security teams, and anyone accountable for vendor risk.

Where does a 3PL like G10 fit?
By enforcing disciplined workflows and absorbing operational complexity so security controls hold up under real-world pressure, not just during audits.