To be effective at a senior level, IT professionals need not only appropriate technical skills and experience, but also a broad understanding of the context in which they operate. Relevant to both small and large companies, this book addresses the social, legal, financial, organisational and ethical issues faced by IT professionals such as intellectual property rights in software, computer misuse, codes of conduct, starting a company and internet law. It is designed to accompany the BCS HEQ 'Diploma in IT' core module: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice. This new edition takes into account the social and legal implications of the substantial changes to legislation and technology over recent years, for example cloud computing, the Digital Economy Act and the Equality Act.