One of the top ten questions asked by my clients is "How
long does the BSA self-audit process take from start to
finish?" Of course I give the standard lawyer answer: it
depends. Here are the steps to a typical BSA audit.
Preparation of Audit Materials (3 to 6 months)
A BSA audit is a request, under threat of litigation, to compile
a listing of all BSA member software products installed on the
audited entity's computer network as of the Audit Effective
Date. The Audit Effective Date is the date on the BSA initial
letter requesting an audit. The first step in preparing this
information is conducting an automated inventory of the software
products installed on all computers owned or leased by the target
company. Once an accurate inventory of the BSA member software
products is completed, the next step is to reconcile the software
inventory information with proofs of purchase dated prior to the
audit effective date. While there are various ways to prove
ownership of a
