Safeguarding Your Company From The Piracy Cops

Software piracy may not garner the same attention as unlawful Game of Thrones downloads, but it is still a serious issue. Indeed, even if the copyright violation was not your fault, a small misstep might result in hundreds, or even millions, of dollars in fines!

Maybe a staff member utilized it to address an issue instead of bugging you with a purchase request. Maybe you use an app every day and have forgotten how to license it. Maybe you have a genuine license but are using it on eight machines when you should only be using it on 1. The Software Alliance (commonly referred to as the BSA) and its affiliates would love to make an example of your firm. They're currently advertising for compensated whistleblowers.

Here's how it happened: Microsoft formed an external agency in the late 1980s to defend member firms' intellectual property by investigating and pursuing as many instances as feasible. Protection laws always exist and only need to be implemented. Finding software pirates used to be time-consuming. They may now publish a Facebook ad targeting former or current employees of a company and give up to $1 million (depending on the country). The unauthorized software just has to be installed or exhibit traces to be used by your company. You can imagine the calls they get!

How To Safeguard Your Company

Unapproved software should be treated with zero tolerance. This implies preventing employees from installing applications on their own computers. Management should limit who can install new software and create a formal request process. You have total control over program selection, installation, and licensing.

In addition, you should conduct yearly software license audits. On a daily basis, it guarantees you have records that can keep your business running if an employee departs and you discover no one knows a password and the resets go to a dead email address. Proper licensing paperwork also ensures you don't get caught using illicit software and that, if you are, you can prove your innocence.

Conclusion

Check for pirated software and secure employee computers today.

I usually write for ITSM Rhino about business IT, such as IT policy, but I also like writing about user issues.

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