A method includes obtaining a voltage or current signal associated with a component of a device and isolating and conditioning the voltage or current signal to generate an output signal. The method also includes processing the output signal to identify one or more surge events, where each surge event is associated with an excessive voltage or current experienced by the device. The method further includes generating information associated with the one or more surge events and transmitting or storing the information. The voltage or current signal could be obtained from a case or housing of the device, a cable coupled to the device, or an antenna coupled to the device. The information associated with the one or more surge events could include a date/time stamp, a severity, a duration, or a shape or profile of each surge event.