The government is to fund a nationwide network of early
warning systems to provide local authorities with virus attack
alerts and cutting-edge advice on critical software
vulnerabilities.
The network, to be rolled out this year, will link clusters of
local authorities, known as Warning Advice and Reporting Points
(Warps), allowing them to exchange confidential information on
security breaches, patches and fixes on secure websites.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the National
Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre, which is responsible
for protecting the UK's key services, are providing £250,000 of
funding to back the project.
The Warp network will use automated software developed by NISCC and
Microsoft to deliver alerts and best practice guidelines to each
local authority.
The roll-out follows a year-long pilot by London Connects and 20 of
London's 32 local authorities, which have tested the concept and
shown that the idea can help time-pressed IT staff protect their
systems.
One London council discovered that its servers were accessible on
the internet and were being misused by hackers. It was able to
alert other local authorities operating similar services and
provide advice on protecting systems.
Local authorities in Kent are to launch the next Warp, Kent
Connects, bringing together 14 local authorities this month. The
plan is to extend the network to emergency services and local
businesses over the next two years.
NISCC plans to extend the idea to the private sector and has been
working with chambers of commerce on plans to create self-funded
Warps for smaller firms.