Customer for over 10 years, a new consultant arrives (for other sectors) and decides that the current server setup is 'obsolete'. They want 'cloud' or 'centralization of services in one of the various offices'. Completely unfeasible for their reality, but I’ve already written enough about this.
This morning, one of their employees calls me saying 'the servers are unreachable' and that 'the consultant says this is yet another demonstration that we need to move to the cloud.'
I sent him to check. I sent him because I want them to realize what is happening. For the fourth time in a month, the network cable connecting one of the servers has been disconnected from the switch. The switch is only accessible by authorized personnel, meaning this employee and the consultant.
I can't claim that it was purposely disconnected by someone with access to the room (certainly not by the one who’s calling me), otherwise I risk a defamation lawsuit. But the dishonesty of certain individuals still leaves me speechless, even after many years.
@stefano No cameras in the server room?
@stefano oof :(
You've presumably thought of this already, but no card-keyaccess on the door? Access card use by specific personnel, could be correlated time-wise with a port on the switch being logged as disconnected (assuming the capability on the switch, obviously).
Otherwise, I'd slap a camera in there myself, if I was you ;)
@rasur there are traditional keys, and only two persons have those keys: the one who called me and the consultant.
I have no authority there, so I can't do anything to increase the security
@stefano WEll, at least you are doing the right thing under the circumstances, by raising visibility to at least the other employee with access. But otherwise, yeah that sucks, sorry to hear it. I would be... _irate_ if I was in your position.
@rasur I'm not surprised, and maybe this is the saddest part. I'll send an e-mail to the owners and explain what's happening. Of course, I can't say this person is guilty. I'll just say that one of the persons having the keys. But they're not stupid and will surely understand that if the other is calling me and solving the problem...
@stefano Sympathies.. yeah, it's all one can do under the circumstances, hey? :(