Posts Tagged ‘terminating IT person’

When things don’t work out…

Yesterday, I got a call from a potential Client that was getting ready to part company (nice way of saying terminating) an in-house IT person (and the only IT person).   I do not know the circumstances, only that the manager was deeply concerned about what the IT person could/would do after the termination.  Here are a few guidelines I suggested…

• Secure the physical environment – do not let the IT person on or near the computer system.  Clean out their personal items for them (physical and electronic).
• Secure the electronic environment – disconnect the internal system from the Internet.  This prevents any unauthorized access from outside.
• Re-establish all security credentials.  This means ALL passwords.  To perform this task the original passwords are needed – this leads to the next and most challenging part.
• Knowledge capture – get the critical system information.  This will need to be part of the separation process (a proper network environment has this information documented – most networks do not).  Here is a list of some of the critical items.  The list is by no means complete, but is the basis of re-establishing control over the IT environment.
  • ISP Account Info
  • Firewall / router passwords
  • Administrator passwords
  • User account List / passwords
  • Email Account List / passwords
  • Email Service Settings & Mgmt
  • Domain Name Host & Mgmt
  • Website Host & Mgmt
  • Server Documentation & Media
  • Printer & Copier Documentation & Media
  • Copier Password
  • 3rd Party Vendor Contacts (all vendors will need to be informed)
    • Software
    • Copiers & Printers
    • ISP
    • Phone System
• LAN IP Scheme & Static List
• Managed Switch Overview
• Wireless – Security codes

This is typically an unpleasant event for all involved.  Proper transition of the IT assets and responsibilities to the next person or organization is in the best interest of everyone.