When it comes to your business and the software that it uses, there is no doubt that you want only the best and most efficient software out there. Furthermore, you want to be sure that everything is running smoothly and that there are no problems with it, even ones that you are unable to see. One way that you can find such problems is through performing software audits.
Hearing that you have to do an audit might at first bring you some images full of prices and taxes, but when this process is done correctly it should be quick and painless for your business. Additionally, it will also bring you some new and valuable information about all software that you use. Overall, it is better to contact professionals from time to time to do it and here are 5 reasons why your business may need software auditors that would surely make you think twice before rejecting this idea.
Find areas of improvement
If you are having some problems such as one of your computers running too slow and you are thinking of changing it, an audit can actually reveal that a simple upgrade of the memory could result in an increased performance. This can actually save you a lot of money since you will be buying only one new part instead of a whole computer. Additionally, software auditors can notice if there are any incorrect system settings or poor security configurations that could potentially result in losses but are quite easy to fix. The software audit will provide you with a clear picture of your whole software department and could help you see the big picture and find out what quick and easy ways to fix any issue.
Budget for long-term improvement
When conducting a research, professional software auditors could reveal that there is some piece of software that is running on an older version or it is simply outdated and needs to be replaced or upgraded. Depending on what findings the auditors provide you with, you can plan your budget accordingly so that you can invest in these areas in the long run. There might be some things that don’t need your immediate attention but have to be updated in a few months, and an audit would reveal such areas and help you plan your future easier.
Understand your software
No matter what size your business is, sometimes it’s just hard to know what all of your employees are doing. Surely spying on them is not a good thing but through an audit you can find out if they have installed any unnecessary software on their work computers that could potentially decrease their productivity. What’s more, if there are regulations about installing such software, an audit will help you find out who is following them and who isn’t.
Know you have the right software
It is in the software manufacturer’s right to perform an unexpected audit on your computers and check if the correct license numbers are used for the software. When hiring new employees or letting them install software of their, you are risking that they might use an incorrect license which would look bad if the manufacturer does check your company out. This is why you should do a regular software audit and see if there are any such problems that need addressing. This could surely save you from a great deal of trouble.
Compile an asset register
Most likely your business has a set of assets listed that are used for accounting purposes. An audit performed can sometimes not include any additional devices or software that is under a monetary value. If there is some kind of a problem such as a natural disaster or a theft, wouldn’t it be great to have a full list of all the devices and software that you have used? All you have to do is ask your software department to get a copy from the software auditors and save it somewhere. In some occasions this can be a lifesaver.
There you have five very good reasons why contacting a professional software auditor to come and check all of your business’s software is not such a bad idea. In fact, this is an investment worth making that could save you a lot of money in the long run.