Should I take this job on or not?

[Jay]

I have a good friend who is MD and owns 51% of his business, he is more of a "good with paper work" sort of guy than a "Good with computers". His IT manager has left him (argued about pay) and walked out so he asked me to just pop in and have a look at his systems network etc.

As he is an old friend I did, I sat down for a few hours had a chat with him and his top level people about what they want with their system where they want to go and did all the usual consultant stuff that I have scripted in my head I have said it so many times, then got all their paper work and plans and sat in the coms room.

Looking through the network plans diagrams etc I noticed a few problems. The first problem is that there where no documentation on passwords, security setups, IPs etc Just a floor plan and a few other documents. I then had a look at their licensing and noticed that their last IT manager had made a HUGE mess. He had not covered them with enough licences for some software, did not have licences at all for others (WinZip being one of them!)

Now I know I need to do a full scale audit for this etc but that will take time. What can I do to cover them right this second? I need to go and look at every server, desktop etc and find every licensing issues (I'll use software to do this... ) but then I need to do a write up, cost it, plan it, get the OK (can take time due to the number of share holders) , get the licences in then go around to dodgy XP installs etc and reinstall the software with the correct codes.

Should I take this on or is it a risk to myself? I would really like to help my friend here and getting it sorted is not a problem its just that I will be working on a network with unlicensed software until I can sort it all out. Is it worth calling up Microsoft and explaining the issue? Will they help or just send the heavys round?

I know that my friend is responsible as he is the MD and should have known better but could the old IT manager be in trouble for installing dodgy software? If so should I report him once the mess is sorted or is it worth covering up?

I think I need to find him and . This is going to cost them a fair but so I am doing this one for free (well a couple of bevys...lol)

On a side not I think that the amount of Pirated or incorrectly licenced software here in the UK is higher than most software companies think. Its not because people do it on purpose but because the licensing procedure is so complicated they just get confused. This is not the first time I have come across issues like this but never to this scale.

[peterb]

Sorry - but I think that is a commercial and professional decision that only you can take given your workload, experience etc.

[ikonia]

if you have to ask a group of randoms on an internet forum......I think you should stay where you are.

do you want to work for someone who's a.) so swithed off from the business that he's allowed priate software to be used b.) work for a company that could be on at the start of a legal situation due to their past dealings.

[Jay]

All good points. My work load is pretty over the top at the moment but its not nice seeing a friend in need. As for the group of randoms I actually find that some of the best advice is given in this very part of the forum....

[Moby-Dick]

Audit the system - remove apps that are not needed then approach MS with a view to getting all licences in date , I dont think they'll send the heavies round.

[speardane]

Well I work as an IT professional, personally if I was going to get involved. I would want 2 key items
1) a contract making your responsibility clear (ie it wasn't you that got them in this, whether you were to advise/ recommend or manage - should be the former if you can't ensure compliance, otherwise you could end up in the same position as the former IT manager!);
2) professional indemnity insurance; groups like BCS and PCG can help with preferential rates - this will probably be several £100!

frankly this sounds like a big job - I think you're being very charitable! At the very least I'd ensure he covered your costs in getting professional advice & insurance.

I suspect he will be grateful, but the other shareholders, may or may not respect free advice - this doesn't have to be extortionate.

And no I'm not sure what you get out of contacting Microsoft etc. This is a commercial not a criminal problem - you're doing the right thing by them! - I can only imagine them either not helping; or making life complicated.

(and yes I agree with your observation that the vendors make life difficult and are thereby part of the problem - how often have you completely read and understood the implications of the software you "license" - Borland had a nice one "treat this as you would a book" - that I could easily understand!)