Towards software self audit

Malaysian Business, Jan 16, 2008 by Cynthia Ann Peterson

THE Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair's Sikap Tulen campaign has seen over 700 local companies heeding the call for businesses to use 100% legal software and conduct regular self audits to review their software assets and ensure compliance. The push to use original software and self audit is initiated by the Ministry and the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

These 700 companies are participants of the BSA Software Audit Program, and have submitted their Software Declaration Forms and software license schedules for every premise and branch using computers and servers. Each of these companies will receive an acknowledgement letter endorsed by the Ministry and BSA if found to be compliant. The companies will also be given a one-year immunity from BSA-initiated Ministry raids.

Companies that qualified for the programme were small and medium- sized enterprises and listed companies that were part of BSA's Software Audit Program launched previously. They were provided free training and the necessary audit tools to identify pirated and unlicenced software in the network.'

The process towards implementing a model Software Asset Management (SAM) practice is simple. First, companies need to determine if they have a need for software, and then find out about the necessary software solutions that best suits their needs. Second, they perform a software audit in all their computers, then match the installed software with the licenses they have already purchased,' says BSA's Director of Marketing for Asia, Roland Chan.

He adds that thirdly, software which are not utilised are either removed or relocated to another position where there is use for it. `If there is under-licensing of software, then steps must be taken to purchase all the necessary licenses needed in the legalisation process. Finally, management should go about setting an organisational policy and practice that promotes the continued management, legal and authorised use of software in the organisation,' continues Chan.

Under the BSA Software Audit Program, BSA will verify the information in the Software Audit declaration form submitted by each company with its members. Once verified, these companies will receive a certificate of recognition from the BSA for practicing good software management.'

Software is arguably the most critical productivity tool a company may have today, so it is all-important that it is managed effectively. With the Sikap Tulen Campaign in full swing, BSA hopes that many more companies throughout the nation would be more proactive in implementing a model SAM practice in the workplace. Perhaps the start of a new year should encourage businesses to re- look at their employment of software as a strategic productivity tool, to meet the challenges ahead,' says Chan.