A small business doesn’t need to invest in
expensive asset management software for compiling a software
inventory. A visit to each PC and a simple Microsoft Excel workbook
will suffice. If you as yet don’t have a worksheet for tracking
some aspect of your PC asset inventory, now’s a great time to
create one.
Suggested column headings for tackling an
antivirus software inventory include
Antivirus Software Bundled with Your PC Purchase
You should own a valid antivirus software
license for each supported system. Be especially wary of any PCs
that may have come bundled with preinstalled antivirus software. In
many cases, these bundled offerings are introductory licenses that
expire 90 days after the PC purchase date.
If your company has more than a few systems,
you may find it more cost-effective and easier to manage if you
consolidate all of your antivirus software purchases into an annual
or biannual site license.
Alternatively, you could purchase a stand-alone
retail copy of antivirus software, and a related update
subscription, for each of your company’s systems.
Antivirus Software Action Items
Is antivirus software installed on all
desktop PCs, notebooks and servers?
Are all systems standardized on the same
antivirus software platform and version?
Are configuration settings documented and
standardized?
Are users locked out from modifying
configuration settings?
Do you have a current inventory of
antivirus software programs installed on your systems?
How well organized are your software
license documents that prove your company is licensed to run the
antivirus software in use? Are there any major gaps?
Have you priced out both retail and site
license purchases of antivirus software? Have you factored in the
costs of software update subscriptions?
If you have any site license or software
update subscription agreements, when are the expiration dates? Have
you investigated and budgeted for renewal costs?
Did any of the antivirus software licenses
on your PCs come bundled with the PC purchases? Have you checked the
expiration dates of the licenses carefully?
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