Software audit costs under fire

[QQ]A fixed-price software-compliance scheme targeted at small and medium-sized businesses came under fire last week, writes Dan Sabbagh.[QQ] The scheme - the Continuous Compliance Program - aims to curb any compliance threat, ranging from software copyright and data protection to computer misuse.[QQ] It is drawn up by the Initiative for Software Compliance, a new body.[QQ] The checks are jointly conducted by services house Sema and testing specialist Societe Generale de Surveillence.[QQ] The scheme costs from #7,959 for organisations with 50 desktop PCs or less, and up to #14,950 for those with 200 PCs. But the launch was dogged by criticisms about the scheme's affordability.[QQ] Michael Arnold, head of IT law at Birmingham-based law company Eversheds, acknowledged the usefulness of the scheme, but said he would be surprised if large numbers of small companies were 'willing to pay that sort of money'.[QQ] A simpler version of the compliance code is likely to be published by the Stationary Office, summarising the key legislation in accessible language.[QQ] Fred Perkins, Stationary Office chief executive, said it would be the 'highway code of IT'.[QQ] The scheme was broadly backed by the Department of Trade and Industry and new IT minister, Michael Wills. 'This is very important in helping smaller businesses taking full advantage of ecommerce,' he said.[QQ] Additional reporting by VNU Newswire.