Through a comedy of errors, we discovered that our corporate license for all our anti-virus software expires on the 31st of December. We did a crash course evaluating whether we wanted to continue using that particular vendor or a different one, whilst the contracts folks (a) negotiated with various vendors, and (b) negotiated with our main vendor for a 90-day extension.<\/p>\n
Current vendor says, “Pound sand, dude.”<\/p>\n
New CIO says, “No, that vendor has a very unattractive cost model. Change over to this other vendor.”<\/p>\n
Change server, mail, and desktop anti-virus software on about 20,000 PCs, 750 servers, 100 mail servers, in three weeks. Over the holidays. When we’ve encouraged everyone to take vacation during that period in order to help our G&A expenses.<\/p>\n
Hilarity — and a bit of hysteria — ensues.<\/p>\n
Dave steps up to bat, says, “Hey, if this is really undoable, we need to quote facts and figures, not just make pouty-faces at the CIO. Let’s do some swags, let’s point out the problems, let’s decide what can be done, the gap analysis, and the risks involved.”<\/p>\n
So now everyone blames Dave for this fiasco …<\/p>\n
Poor Dave …<\/p>\n
UPDATE, 12 Dec.<\/b>: Sanity prevails, thanks to Dave’s noble efforts. Grateful IT populace lifts Dave onto their shoulders and sprinkles him with flower petals. Dave uses flower petals to blow his nose, and goes home early, trying to get some rest and get over the creeping crud before the CIO comes to visit tomorrow ….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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