Are You Being Audited?
Being audited?! Don’t Panic! If you’ve received the dreaded, You Are Being Audited letter or are facing an unexpected and/or sizable license shortfall claim by a publisher. Contact us. We can help.
Audited – But You Did Not Intend To Use Unlicensed Software!
The vast majority of companies running enterprise software have no intention of stealing it. Nor are we at Intelligent Bills interested in helping companies run unlicensed software. That said, license compliance is exceedingly difficult and Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, VMware, IBM, and other major publishers utilize audits to build undue financial leverage. Is an auditor is knocking at your door or has one already extended a fear-inducing final audit report with “shock and awe” implications to the budget? If you are being audited, we can help.
We Recommend the Following Immediate Steps
Stop Communicating with the Publisher
Talk to Intelligent Bills before (re)engaging, including verbally.
Do Not Send Evidence
Do not send spreadsheets, script output, questionnaires, etc., before understanding the implications of doing so.
Do Not Overreact
Do not believe lawyering up and going to court is a viable option.
Two Truths About Enterprise Software
First, license compliance for most enterprise software is the honor system and you are empowered to determine the value of your software via shrewd negotiations. Intelligent Bills is prepared to advise on the math and artwork of an honorable (i.e., defensible) license position as well as how much to spend.
Second, it is important to understand enterprise software’s distribution models. For example, Oracle software is posted online and readily downloadable by anyone, doesn’t require license keys, may be installed and used at any volume, doesn’t prompt when expensive options are (or are about to be) used, etc. Additionally, policy documents may be labeled “for educational purposes only”, but Oracle, SAP, and others expect the guidelines within to be adhered to.
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