Detecting Software License Violations

D.

The best way to prevent and detect software license violations is to regularly scan used PCs, either from the LAN or directly, to ensure that unauthorized copies of software have not been loaded on the PC.

Other options are not detective.

A corporate policy is not necessarily enforced and followed by all employees.

Software can be installed from other means than floppies or CD-ROMs (from a LAN or even downloaded from the Internet) and software metering only concerns applications that are registered.

The BEST way to detect software license violations depends on various factors such as the organization's size, budget, resources, and the type of software being used. However, of the options provided, the most effective method would be to regularly scan PCs in use to ensure that unauthorized copies of software have not been loaded on the P.

Option A, implementing a corporate policy on copyright infringements and software use, is a good practice to ensure that employees are aware of the organization's policy on software usage and copyright laws. However, it is not a foolproof method to detect software license violations.

Option B, requiring all PCs to be diskless workstations, means that the workstations do not have any hard disk, and the operating system and applications are booted from a server. This option can help prevent users from installing unauthorized software on their workstations, but it may not be practical or cost-effective for all organizations.

Option C, installing metering software on the LAN, can help organizations monitor the usage of software and ensure that they are not exceeding their license limits. However, this option requires a considerable amount of investment in terms of software and infrastructure and may not be practical for all organizations.

Option D, regularly scanning PCs in use, is a practical and cost-effective method to detect software license violations. Organizations can use software asset management tools to scan the network for unauthorized software and identify any discrepancies between the installed software and the organization's license agreements. Regular scans can help detect any unauthorized software and ensure that the organization is compliant with software license agreements.

In conclusion, while implementing a corporate policy on software usage and copyright infringements is essential, regularly scanning PCs in use to detect unauthorized software is the BEST way to detect software license violations.