diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3ca6946..22a667b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ This repository contains the base chain implementation that Colinear's compute m
 | :-------- | :-------- |
 | Leasing & settlement module | [x/colinearcore](./x/colinearcore/README.md) |
 | In-memory bid database | [x/colinearcore/memdb](./x/colinearcore/memdb/README.md) |
+| Hardware provider auditing | [x/colinearcore/audit](./x/colinearcore/audit/README.md) |
 
 ## Validators
 
diff --git a/x/colinearcore/audit/README.md b/x/colinearcore/audit/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b44ff68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x/colinearcore/audit/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Peer Auditing 
+
+The auditing mechanism contained in this folder ensures that hardware providers are running the hardware they say they are. The basic requirements will be as follows:
+
+| Requirement                                       | Punishment            |
+| :--                                               | :--                   |
+| Must stake a set amount of CLR.                   | N/A                   |
+| Must complete a GPU puzzle for each declared GPU. | N/A                   |
+| Must be online for validator pings                | Staked funds slashed  |
+
+## GPU Puzzle
+
+Work in progress.
+
+## Validator Pings
+
+Attempts to perform an SSH handshake using Go's builtin `crypto/ssh`. If the handshake times out, this means that practically speaking, the provider is offline.
diff --git a/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn.go b/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6475467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn.go
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/dgraph-io/badger/v2"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
+)
+
+// Maps SSH ping result channel to address that is being pinged
+var pingDB *badger.DB
+
+func MountPingDB() {
+	var err error
+	pingDB, err = badger.Open(badger.DefaultOptions("").WithInMemory(true))
+	if err != nil {
+		// must force crash here, since ping db is absolutely required
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to mount in-memory db: %s", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// Begin ping to check if SSH is running on an open port on a host.
+//
+// NOTE: host should include a port number.
+func BeginSshPing(host string) error {
+
+	k := []byte(host)
+
+	err := pingDB.Update(func(txn *badger.Txn) error {
+		_, err := txn.Get(k)
+		if err != nil {
+			if !errors.Is(err, badger.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+				// key-not-found condition required to write
+				return err
+			} else {
+				goto writePing
+			}
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("already pinging host %s", host)
+
+	writePing:
+		if err := txn.Set(k, []byte(strconv.FormatBool(false))); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	sshConfig := &ssh.ClientConfig{
+		User:            "user",
+		Auth:            []ssh.AuthMethod{ssh.Password("pass")},
+		HostKeyCallback: ssh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
+		Timeout:         100 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	go dialSshAsync(host, sshConfig)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Check on ongoing SSH ping
+func CheckSshPing(host string) (bool, error) {
+	k := []byte(host)
+
+	var pingStatus bool
+
+	err := pingDB.View(func(txn *badger.Txn) error {
+		resVal, err := txn.Get(k)
+		if err != nil {
+			if !errors.Is(err, badger.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+				return err
+			} else {
+				return fmt.Errorf("not pinging host %s", host)
+			}
+		}
+
+		err = resVal.Value(func(val []byte) error {
+			pingStatus, err = strconv.ParseBool(string(val))
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode ping status for host %s: %s", host, string(val))
+			}
+			return nil
+		})
+		return err
+
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	return pingStatus, nil
+}
+
+func dialSshAsync(host string, conf *ssh.ClientConfig) {
+	ssh.Dial("tcp", host, conf)
+	pingDB.Update(func(txn *badger.Txn) error {
+		k := []byte(host)
+		return txn.Set(k, []byte(strconv.FormatBool(true)))
+	})
+	// any potential resulting error is swallowed since this is run asynchronously
+}
diff --git a/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn_test.go b/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c8495e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x/colinearcore/audit/sshconn_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package audit
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestCheckSSH(t *testing.T) {
+
+	MountPingDB()
+
+	host1 := "102.1.41.3:22" // should evaluate to false
+	host2 := "127.0.0.1:22"  // should evaluate to true
+
+	if err := BeginSshPing(host1); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	if err := BeginSshPing(host2); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+
+	res, err := CheckSshPing(host1)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	if res {
+		panic("check host 1 - res should be false")
+	}
+
+	res2, err := CheckSshPing(host2)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	if !res2 {
+		panic("check host 2 - res should be true")
+	}
+}