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CEO wants backup tape

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by fergynm

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A CEO at a previous company I worked for came to me and asked for me to give him the latest backup tape so that he can keep it instead of our normal policy of storing it off-site in a safe deposit box. While I know the safe deposit box isn't the best, it was enough for our little company.

Being it was a small company, it was hard to say "no" to the CEO. However, I'm thinking there may be some ethical issues involved. Might I be over-reacting?

5 replies

by pgm554

I consult for small companies,and what ever the CEO wants(within reason),comply.
Unless you see gross negligence on the CEO's part,do it.
You will loose 99.999% of the time in this type of scenario(along with your job).

by thechas

Would / could there be ANY information on the backup tape that the CEO should not know about or have access to?

If so, I would be more worried about the company and other executives.

Now, the CEO may be trying to cover his own tracks, or have a hidden agenda to gather information against another executive in the company.

Still, in the absence of a corporate board, I can see no justifiable reason to NOT give the CEO a copy of the backup. He should NOT have the only copy of the backup.

Chas

by highlander718

... with the others, but you say "previous" company.

So I guess this happened in the past and you already choose one way or the other, no ?
Anyway, if you have written policies, agreed for the CEO, or your hierarchical superior you have the "legal" option NOT to give the tape if you don't want to.

Other than that, beeing the CEO, and with nobody else to control him, I guess you have to give him the tape, good idea not to give him the ONLY copy and/or make him give you something on paper (that either he changed the policy, or yes he took the tape).
I mean if it just comes (God forbid) to your word against his (on where the tape is) he'll win and you might be the scapegoat.
Thing is it's a little strange for the CEO to care about backup, no ? So I would give him the tape, but take some measures as well.

by pgm554

You really think that the CEO is smart enough to restore a backup tape if he he is looking for dirt.Yeah,right.
I ain't run into one yet!:)

by cactus pete

The CEO is probably smart enough to give the tape to someone else who can... Like a lawyer who has an IT staff.

The tape should be given, right after it is signed out on the proper company forms for such an action.

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