Systems and methods include, responsive to a Wi-Fi client device providing a password for a zone of a Wi-Fi network, determining a status of the Wi-Fi client device; when the status is unknown, placing the client device in a holding area associated with the zone, wherein the client device is connected to the Wi-Fi network while in the holding area and has restricted access that is less than full access to the zone in an allowed zone; responsive to placing the client device in the holding area, causing a notification to an administrator that the client device is in the holding area; and with the client device in the holding area, one of moving the Wi-Fi client device to the allowed area, moving the client device to a rejected area for the zone, and leaving the client device in the holding zone, based on any input or lack thereof.