Methods are systems are provided for onboarding network equipment to managed networks. An onboarding controller may be used in authenticating the to-be-onboarded network equipment. The onboarding controller may issue a challenge, which may comprise instructions for making configuration changes to the network equipment. The configuration changes may comprise adding, removing, and/or changing connections within and/or to the network equipment within a local network comprising the network equipment. The onboarding controller may determine whether or not the configuration changes have been made to the network equipment. The determination of configuration changes may be used in verifying the identity and/or location of the network equipment, and/or in determining determine to which managed network the network equipment should be onboarded.