Benefits

There are different benefits depending on whether you are using WARP services as a member or running a WARP for your community as an operator.

1. WARP member benefits

  • Peer support:

    WARP members can share a collective view of issues and solutions from peers within the community, which could include benchmarking to support better decision making.

  • Early warning:

    Finding out about problems and solutions that others are experiencing, and sharing these within the WARP community will offer a unique service. Some information will only be available from the WARP community (privileged access to information).

  • Improved preparedness:

    Access to a trusted forum to share problems and solutions, as well as raising your awareness of local threats and electronic attack issues.

  • Compliance with ISO27001:

    belonging to a WARP satisfies several accreditation requirements.

  • Not being alone:

    WARP members always have peers to turn to, facilitated by the operator, for example to find out if anyone has applied the latest patches and if they had problems

  • Increased security:

    By having access to faster more relevant information.

2. Benefits to a WARP operator

A WARP operator can be a member of the community it serves, and therefore will see the same WARP member benefits as described above, Alternatively, it could be a third party organisation wishing to provide WARP services to the WARP community. The following list focuses on the third party WARP operator benefits:

  • Enhanced portfolio:

    If you already engage with the prospective WARP community by providing other services then creating a WARP will enhance your portfolio of services.

  • Economies of scale:

    If you are in the public sector and have a duty to engage with a prospective WARP community on other areas such as civil contingencies or eCrime prevention, then providing WARP services could give you economies of scale.

  • Policy and strategy:

    If you are in academia and wish to engage with your local community for policy or strategic reasons, then providing WARP services could be a good start, while at the same time utilising expertise you hold in-house.

  • Enhanced reputation:

    If you are in the private sector wishing to engage with your local community for the common good, then providing WARP services will enhance your reputation.

  • Efficiency:

    As a WARP operator, you will promote the sharing of information and the coordination of common tasks, which in turn, will reduce duplication of work.

  • Support from other WARPs:

    Operational support from other WARPs is well established through the WARP Operators Forum.

  • Low cost:

    The model is designed to be low cost, through minimal staffing levels (or virtual teams) but if you already have an existing infrastructure then your costs will be even lower.

  • On-line WARP resource:

    The on-line resource has been created from the experience of other WARPs to help the creation of new WARPs.
Next step: If you would like to see some real life examples of members benefiting from WARP membership then please use this link to some case studies.