Concerned about the implications, Alex decided to approach the situation with caution. He reached out to Autodesk, the official developer of AutoCAD Civil 3D, to inquire about legitimate ways to access the software. To his relief, he discovered that Autodesk offered various licensing options, including a free trial, educational versions for students (which didn't apply to him directly but was good to know), and flexible subscription plans that could cater to his company's needs and budget.