Procurement, including IT and software
The simplest way to prevent counterfeit software/hardware from entering your business is to get the intial purchasing right. Purchases of Information Technology (IT) products should be handled in the same way as for other company assets.
Business' should focus on securing any software/hardware from reputable distributors, taking care to check the history and reputation of new suppliers. Failure to purchase legitimate software could leave you open to operational risks, such as exposing your network and data, and could also raise legal liability issues.
A commonsense approach can be applied. If you are suspicious about products and their pricing or have concerns about sellers, distributors and/or products, contact the software publisher directly. They will normally be happy to answer any questions to help you to ensure that you have a legitimate product for your business.
A brief guide
for procurement
of goods and services 
(43Kb) looks at:
- What is Intellectual Property (IP) rights infringement
- What to watch out for
- Hints and tips for IT procurement