Professional Indemnity vs Public Liability for sys admin.

**vetran** · 8 June 2007, 21:01

Originally posted by 2uk

I am doing some sys admin support for servers throughout the UK. The freakin problem is that they have NO documentation nor time to train me into their systems setup. ( They got – FTP , WEB , Clusters , Tape Libraries , Some app that does something for Barclays / other banks , all sort of stuff – this is hundreds of servers )

They expect me ( and 1 other contractor ) to troubleshoot that on the fly and basically deal with everything that goes wrong - Without any prior formal knowledge of the system configurations. Actually each service call that arrives is when I first get some overview on a given server/s.

Thats unusual, dropped in at the deep end without documentation.

First job is a proper Audit.

And yes you need both.

**Jog On** · 8 June 2007, 23:00

If you're admin then hell no..

I'm admin as well and I have public liability only.

It's not your lookout but maybe get PCG to cover yo ass..

**oraclesmith** · 8 June 2007, 23:04

If I was doing systems admin on live systems I'd definitely get PI insurance ! Imagine how much loss of business they could claim for if you really messed up.

**Paddy** · 9 June 2007, 06:02

Originally posted by 2uk

In short from what I read the 2 types:
Public Liability. Insurance against damaging stuff/equipment/people during business activities.
Professional Indemnity : Insurance against negligent advice.

I am doing some sys admin support for servers throughout the UK. The freakin problem is that they have NO documentation nor time to train me into their systems setup. ( They got – FTP , WEB , Clusters , Tape Libraries , Some app that does something for Barclays / other banks , all sort of stuff – this is hundreds of servers )

They expect me ( and 1 other contractor ) to troubleshoot that on the fly and basically deal with everything that goes wrong - Without any prior formal knowledge of the system configurations. Actually each service call that arrives is when I first get some overview on a given server/s.

It could be everything that could go wrong in there. Do I need both insurances ?

The advantage of contracting through your limited company when you get into trouble; you can wind the company up and you are only limited to the (£100) that you put in and to the company assets ( an old broken laptop and book of first class stamps)

**Kyajae** · 9 June 2007, 15:14

Originally posted by 2uk

In short from what I read the 2 types:
Public Liability. Insurance against damaging stuff/equipment/people during business activities.
Professional Indemnity : Insurance against negligent advice.

I am doing some sys admin support for servers throughout the UK. The freakin problem is that they have NO documentation nor time to train me into their systems setup. ( They got – FTP , WEB , Clusters , Tape Libraries , Some app that does something for Barclays / other banks , all sort of stuff – this is hundreds of servers )

They expect me ( and 1 other contractor ) to troubleshoot that on the fly and basically deal with everything that goes wrong - Without any prior formal knowledge of the system configurations. Actually each service call that arrives is when I first get some overview on a given server/s.

It could be everything that could go wrong in there. Do I need both insurances ?

I wouldn't touch it even as a Systems Engineer. The fact that the comapny hass no documentation, change control or presumably no procedures to control security etc, it makes you wonder about both the quality of the previous IT guys and the quality of the management they were under.

Do yourself a massive favour. Walk

**2uk** · 9 June 2007, 15:38

Originally posted by Kyajae

Do yourself a massive favour. Walk

I am going to walk soon ( I hope ) . I just wonder, should something go wrong later on, can they have a successful case against me provided the situation they put me into ? Don't answer that

With current insurance are you covered for claims related to past projects even if you have not had insurance back when the project was done ?

**oraclesmith** · 9 June 2007, 17:57

Originally posted by 2uk

I am going to walk soon ( I hope ) . I just wonder, should something go wrong later on, can they have a successful case against me provided the situation they put me into ? Don't answer that

Just document the shortcomings so you have some evidence of what you've walked into. The PI insurance is worth buying (at a couple of hundred quid) to fend off any claims. Tip : If you don't have to, don't let the client know you have this insurance because the insurance co. might not like it.

**Jog On** · 10 June 2007, 18:59

Originally posted by Jog On

If you're admin then hell no..

I'm admin as well and I have public liability only.

It's not your lookout but maybe get PCG to cover yo ass..

I'll retract that as I'm only 2nd line. I don't have a need for PI right now but when I'm more project focused I will.

If I were to do so much as patch a minor server I'd get PI. So 3rd line admin yes definitely get PI - I'm sure plenty of us have seen dodgy MS patches wreak absolute havok - there was one released recently that causes a memory leak and unworkable client machines.

**2uk** · 12 June 2007, 19:51

Originally posted by Jog On

I'll retract that as I'm only 2nd line. I don't have a need for PI right now but when I'm more project focused I will.

If I were to do so much as patch a minor server I'd get PI. So 3rd line admin yes definitely get PI - I'm sure plenty of us have seen dodgy MS patches wreak absolute havok - there was one released recently that causes a memory leak and unworkable client machines.

So say you install the next win patch and next week the server won't boot , and they lose 10000 K. , Is that covered by Public Liability ?

However you gave them the advice to install that patch. Where is your Professional Indemnity ?

I decided what to do. Join the PCG, use the help line to ask these questions of global importance.

Professional Indemnity vs Public Liability for sys admin.