What should a system administrator do with unlicensed software pre-installed by him?

Question

System administration

Let's assume this is the situation. A system administrator got a job at Labian LLC or MUP GlavRybTrestZhrems (for example), and suddenly realizes that all software, with rare exceptions, is straight terry piracy, pre-installed by previous system administrators. And not even so much because of malicious intent, but simply out of old habit, as it always was. The authorities don’t care, they are not scared, they know about some criminal cases only by hearsay, and they consider it something from the category of fairy tales, especially considering that the city of Ensk, in which the events unfold, is small and no one (probably ) and nafig not needed, even for a demonstrative spanking with a formidable "ay-yay-yay." And then the system administrator went to work, and the problems here and there are soft, somewhere the Windows_by_Vasyan assembly decided that it no longer wants to work, and clearly requires reinstallation to the normal version. Somewhere the cracks have melted, and the people are demanding a "pogromist" to fix everything. And the "pogromist" is shocked at what to do with it. How to act legally competently so as not to substitute yourself? Let's assume that the option "get the fuck out of there" is not an option at all, and in any other local office it will be the same.
Immediately dots over the "e": the moped is not mine, the situation was generally a dream, but the person who is the "pogromist" person suddenly realized that Zver_XP and the like would not work any further. Do you say "Linux"? Well, somewhere, of course, it will go, on a couple of server machines, but all the main working software still works only under Windows and there are no analogues.

Answer 1

1) Most (if not all) license agreements prohibit not only the installation, but also the use of counterfeit software. Those. it is no longer possible to use the software, having learned about its pirated origin. Thus, referring to the fact that the software was installed by another specialist is practically useless.
2) Small companies believe that they are not needed by any of the inspectors, large ones - that they have "everything captured and all greased up." Nonsense. I know about a small enterprise (about 200 employees) in the food industry in a small town (50-70 thousand people), which was shaken for pirated software. Why them, I do not know; there are dozens of similar enterprises nearby with the same level of licensing procedure. In a large enterprise, in case of problems, there will be just one system administrator to blame, since the management has "everything in the ointment", and the system administrator is a black sheep in an absolutely legal enterprise.
3) Any written appeal to the management with a request/request/warning about illegal software will confirm the knowledge of the specialist about the presence of pirated software and his understanding of the illegality of actions.
IMHO, if quitting is not an option, then at least not install anything personally; to convey information to the management, but in an undocumented form, so that later you don’t get stuck even more.
Unlikely, but hypothetically, if the job description states that a specialist installs software provided by the employer, the employer becomes a stakeholder.

Answer 2

I found out this fact at the first interview. Well, before taking office, there should be a mandatory process of acceptance and transfer of equipment, documentation and cases. After the fact, it remains to demand that management adopt a specific and short-term plan to get rid of pirated software, if the work is really needed, or quit.

Answer 3

How to act legally competently so as not to substitute yourself?

The sysadmin has three options -
The first option - it is not necessary to refuse work, just quit the post of system administrator and get a job as a janitor or engineer. The main thing is that there should not be software installation in the official duties.
The second option - well, everything is simple here.
Third - if you are ready to take a risk, why not, risk is a noble cause and often well paid.

Answer 4

Roughly speaking, you can only relieve yourself of responsibility on paper in which your duties will be described only by the hardware component. All. And so ... No way. And do not even think of officially writing "in connection with not licensed" and the like. This makes the situation worse. And you also cover up the crime soldered.

Answer 5

That's how it is not logical in the IT sphere. If I am a plumber and monitor the condition of the plumbing, I do not have to know whether the stolen faucet box has leaked or not, I will fix it with a cable or put a new nut bought legally in a store. But if I drag a mixer bought from a buyer of stolen goods and install it for someone, then I am a criminal. Will an electrician also go under the article if he screws in a stolen light bulb received at the factory warehouse? Why is it wrong in IT, wedb sys.admin. the same service personnel hired to keep the PC running. Where is the intent of the sys.admin? So thoughts out loud.

Answer 6

the system administrator does not manage the property of the company i.e. permission to allocate money for the purchase of software is not in his competence.
first you need to write a memorandum stating that there is a bunch of unlicensed software in the subordinate computers on which you can’t continue working and offers to buy and calculate cash spending.
this removes some of the responsibility from the system administrator.
it indicates that the system administrator has made movements towards correcting unresolved situations - and the next step should be from the management of the company, which is directly responsible for all the property of the fima and is now aware that there are illegal elements in their responsibility.
both of the next steps are stalemate - either quit or merge the company into the authorities.
because pirated software is a violation of the law and sisdamin, as a law-abiding citizen, must report it to law enforcement agencies.
here and think.
at least you need to write a note and keep a copy with you with an official mark that the authorities accepted the note for work.

Answer 7

Go to the store and buy the organization some licensed CDs and then donate them.