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Subject:RE: Client from Hell redux From:Tom Johnson <johnsont -at- starcutter -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 8 Jun 2000 08:11:41 -0400
Yes, maybe Andrew got the job done. What if a plumber came to your house to
fix a broken water pipe. While using a wrench he broke a fingernail and
needed a nail file to get rid of the jagged edge (OK, most plumbers would
bite it off, but never mind). How would you feel if you found him rummaging
your dresser or your jewelry box for a nail file? Some companies consider
their networked information to be valuable and anyone hacking their way
into the system is prosecuted to the maximum extent possible. There are
places that run the risk of losing contracts if their clients knew there
were such security breaches.
Contractor, employee or visitor, anyone given permission to enter a
facility should consider themselves as a guest (even if you have a job to
do). As a contractor, I do what it takes to get the job done, but I do it
by my client's rules. I tell them I need access to such and such and they
generally give it to me. I won't risk a working relationship by granting
myself access to areas that may be sensitive.
I think there is a techwr-l tie-in here. As TWs, we need to learn how to
determine our clients needs. We do that through communication. In the same
vein, we need to learn how to communicate our needs to our clients. Asking
for permission may be harder than asking for forgiveness, but you may only
get one chance if you do the latter. Their answer might be NO.
On Wednesday, June 07, 2000 7:12 PM, Michele Davis
[SMTP:mdavis -at- bitstream -dot- net] wrote:
> Gwen, what IF the contractor/consultant wasn't from a firm, but
independent, and
> in your contract with them that didn't specifically state that they were
"not
> allowed" security?
>
> It seems to me that what Andrew did was proactive. He got the job done,
that's
> what he was supposed to do. Why would you get lawyers involved? Lawyers
should
> only be involved if he was distributing secure information, but it
appears he
> wasn't.
>
> Michele
> --
> michele e. davis
> 612-824-3516 voice
> 612-824-3518 fax
>http://www2.bitstream.net/~mdavis
>
>
> > Gwen Thomes:
> > If a contractor working for me committed such a flagrant breach of
security,
> > I'd have him walked out of the building immediately. Then I'd jump on
the
> > phone to the contract firm to see whether the contractor's employment
> > agreement specified such an action on the part of the contractor as
> > immediate cause for dismissal by the contract company. If not, I'd get
my
> > company's legal department involved immediately, and I'd recommend
severing
> > relationships with the contract firm.
Tom Johnson
Technical Writer
Elk Rapids Engineering Div., Star Cutter Company
johnsont -at- starcutter -dot- com - work
thomasj -at- freeway -dot- net - personal
