Ever been audited ?

[blackcat]

I guess we've all been audited for hardware to make sure that the inventory matches what we've actually got and where it is (he says making a sweeping statement). Anybody ever been audited for software to make sure they have the correct number of licenses and that no illegal software is installed ? If not, will it ever happen ?

[Ryan]

My only experience of auditing was a brief financial audit and i had to show someone some server software that we'd spend some money on. I'd probably cry and/or run away if we had a full-on audit...

[cookie_monster]

Been audited twice at two schools. Make sure you have as many paper licences as you can get and bring it all together into folders (auditors love that), insist that departments find licences for all of the old cr*p software that they bought ages ago and explain if they can't find it it's gone.

 

Most important is to look organised both times they looked through the paperwork decided we looked in control and didn't bother looking at the PC's. Basically they're looking at MS licencing 200 computers = 200 Windows and Office licences, maybe a few other big ones like AV software, i'd be very surprised it they started looking at any of the other junk you find in schools.

[Ric_]

During our last financial audit, they scrutinised our AUP and other policies. I'm not sure they knew what they were looking for... more of a tick list with silly things like 'are the comms cabinets locked?

[cookie_monster]

tick list

Exactly

[acrobson]

We had a large audit my the education LA. As we had taken over from someone who had 'been asked to leave' we were not sure ourselves, we were very soon down to a basic image! and i mean basic, they had no licenses for anything, well, at least on paper, of course they had more than enough verbal licenses!

 

Thankfully, were all back to normal after a shocks to the management and finance team when they actually had to do there job!

[CyberNerd]

Technically the LA have to report figures, but I've never seen an inspection because the LA either don't understand the basic process of asset management, or they don't implement it (other than a quick email "how many computers do you have.....")

Hopefully some of this will be pulled up by ofsted.

[Geoff]

Our head teacher recently asked our LEA's IT support team to audit our network and systems. To what end I'm not sure. Anyway, basically there was very little wrong. Other than the usual culprits, lack of investment and lack of manpower.

[MkII]

We had an audit after a serious demeanour by a member of SMT - was a total farce - asked me a couple of questions, didn't seem to be bothered about the answers really - a total joke.

[pallen]

The closest I've had here, was this week. We have just had a full inspection and part of that consisted of getting no of PCs, IWB projectors etc. All they wanted was numbers, location, and age of equipment but as far as I know, non of this was checked. I'm not sure if this was because I already had the information they were after printed for them, or they had already been round the school . To be honest it just seemed like ticking boxes to see what our equipment to pupil ratio was like. I know that there have been financial auditors in, but non specifically for IT.