Secure system data collection using call home feature

A computer program product for securely collecting diagnostic information from an IT product, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied therein, the computer-usable program code configured to perform the following when executed by at least one processor:

• contact, by an IT product, an external service provider having a database associated therewith, wherein the external service provider and database are located remotely from the IT product;
• check, by the IT product using outbound communication from the IT product to the external service provider, the database to determine if diagnostic information associated with the IT product needs to be collected on the IT product in order to diagnose a problem with the IT product;
• if diagnostic information needs to be collected, send, by the IT product, an authorization request to an administrator of the IT product;
• and
• if the authorization request is approved, collect, by the IT product, the diagnostic information and transmit the diagnostic information from the IT product to the external service provider.

A system for securely collecting diagnostic information from an IT product, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one memory device operably coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions for execution on the at least one processor, the instructions causing the at least one processor to:
• contact, by an IT product, an external service provider having a database associated therewith, wherein the external service provider and database are located remotely from the IT product;
• check, by the IT product using outbound communication from the IT product to the external service provider, the database to determine if diagnostic information associated with the IT product needs to be collected on the IT product in order to diagnose a problem with the IT product;
• if diagnostic information needs to be collected, send, by the IT product, an authorization request to an administrator of the IT product;
• and
• if the authorization request is approved, collect, by the IT product, the diagnostic information and transmit the diagnostic information from the IT product to the external service provider.