Many auditors are well aware of software licensing issues and the requirements to manage your software licenses so that you can demonstrate that you have legitimately purchased what you have installed. However some auditors are not up to speed on the issues, and some find it difficult to budget for resources (labor and software tools) to enable checking to occur across an organization, as it is not seen as a priority issue to consider.

If you can answer the following questions and are better than 90% confident you know what is installed can be verified by proof of purchase records etc, then don't bother taking the quiz!

Here is a small sample of the questions -

.. Are sounds, images and fonts subject to copyright laws?

.. Do you know who sets the software budget?

.. Does your company include software compliance "rules" in your terms and conditions of employment?

.. If they have, can they legally do this?

.. Do you know what you have installed and can you match these with asset and proof of purchase records?

.. Have you installed at work your own software to make you more productive at work?

.. You've just been transferred/promoted to a new role. When you take control of the PC, will you expect an audit to be conducted to verify it was a clean "legally compliant" machine before you take it over?

.. Have you seen a recent management policy/memo/circular about copying/installing software?

                and so on....................

Take a tip from PCProfile  http://www.pcprofile.com

The questionnaire will open your eyes to a wide range of areas that you may never have considered as an auditor in terms of management and verification of licensing issues on your systems. The issues you face with licensing are becoming even more complex as Linux (that was once FREE) is now being challenged through the courts by SCO in terms of making requests to large organizations for a sum of $US699 per server for a license fee for software that you had already installed under "free license conditions that existed before"! The ground has shifted under your feet and many have no idea where you are in terms of licensing!

Take the test and then start working out how you are going to manage the risks you face with the state you are in!

Will you pass the Software Compliance test?

Try out the quiz using the attached pdf file.

You may be able to use this as a business case justification for strengthening your requests to management for a better (or even funding for) audit program which allows you the time and resources to assess the risk and reduce the risk within your organization! Ask your CEO/CIO/MD to take the test and see how they fare!

============================================

=============================================