Why do we hate vendor software audits?

I want to open this subject for debate especially that I understand there are no vendors allowed on this forum.

Let's us face it, we all know that from time to time we are under licensed in terms of software. No one wants to admit it but it is true.

If so why do we get angry when Microsoft, Oracle or SAP approaches us to discuss under licensing or request access in order to run an audit?

Is it because we don't like their approach? Is it because it always seems to come when we least expect it? Is it because we don't have budgets? Is it because we know that the copyright laws cannot be enforced? Or because we do not like to get caught with our hands in the cookie jar?

I think it is a combination of all the above. I feel that we sometimes unnecessarily try to dodge this discussion with vendors only because we have the upper hand .. is it fair?

Sure no one wants to get caught with their hands in the cookie jar! That is why we don't like audits. I just think that different vendors kin of approach this differently.

I remember SAP used to do audits in a way that was impersonal, they send yoy carefully warder emails from Germany, they send you the tool which you run it yourself etc.. This approach is less embarrassing because it is not face to face.

Oracle and Microsoft seem to be more confrontational and that does not make the process any popular.

This is an interesting forum topic.
The whole issue about being audited by my supplier is not exactly an enjoyable one, yes it is in their contracts bt they need to be somewhat more tactful and patient.

Having said that, my organization has a strong audit department that does not only audit finance or business practices but also things like licenses and so on. This helps us be somewhat ahead of the vendors in terms of understanding our situation and whether we are underlicensed or not.

What I don't like is that it is very hard to really understand the licensing policy of vendors, and if I don't fully understand then we are likely to go over our licenses unknowingly.
In particular all the processor based licensing Oracle uses, that gets confusing with number of cores etc..
But all in all we have not any major issues with audits, most were resolved fairly quickly and without much trouble.

I know that most vendors try to be tactful about audits and under licensing but no matter what they do it still not something that is welcomed by us in IT departments ..

We should be doing our own audits as part of compliance, vendors should provide training for our staff to do so. I like the Oracle Software Investment Guide because it provides us with a good understanding with their licensing practices .. hope other vendors come up with similar documents.
www.oracle.com/us/corporate/pricing/soft...ent-guide/index.html