Re:Ask HN: How does your company/organization handle cloud a...
by oblib on Monday May 01, 2017 @08:09PM
(#14242937)
I'm just a small one man operation but since I've been doing this, for about 20 years now, I have always put account ownership of 3rd party services in the client's name and informed them of any updates that needed to be made to that info while I managed those accounts.
The idea behind it is they can fire me anytime they want and not have to worry about me hijacking their data.
As part of this I direct the billing for all 3rd party services to them from the very start. When clients have decided to move on I give them everything they need and ask for, even if they owe me money.
I work with whomever they are using to make it easy for them and try to be as helpful as possible. I won't do their job for them but I will provide with what they need if I have it.
As far as code I write for them, that is owned by those who pay me to write it. Again, I make that clear from the start. Personally, I think it's highly unethical to do otherwise.
If you're offering your software as a service that's a different issue but when you're creating custom apps just for them you need to make it so they can continue on if you get hit by a bus and can't continue on.
I have changed how I create apps over the years to make it easier for clients to move away from me when they want. I have some that have been with me for over 15 years now. Some that have left and come back, and some that never looked back. But none will say I hindered them when they left. They will all say I helped them with whatever they needed and made it as easy as possible.
From a legal standpoint I want to be on solid ground from the beginning. I don't want any client to be able to say I hindered their ability to do business, and none ever has.
The idea behind it is they can fire me anytime they want and not have to worry about me hijacking their data.
As part of this I direct the billing for all 3rd party services to them from the very start. When clients have decided to move on I give them everything they need and ask for, even if they owe me money.
I work with whomever they are using to make it easy for them and try to be as helpful as possible. I won't do their job for them but I will provide with what they need if I have it.
As far as code I write for them, that is owned by those who pay me to write it. Again, I make that clear from the start. Personally, I think it's highly unethical to do otherwise.
If you're offering your software as a service that's a different issue but when you're creating custom apps just for them you need to make it so they can continue on if you get hit by a bus and can't continue on.
I have changed how I create apps over the years to make it easier for clients to move away from me when they want. I have some that have been with me for over 15 years now. Some that have left and come back, and some that never looked back. But none will say I hindered them when they left. They will all say I helped them with whatever they needed and made it as easy as possible.
From a legal standpoint I want to be on solid ground from the beginning. I don't want any client to be able to say I hindered their ability to do business, and none ever has.