Case studies
Here are just two recent examples where WARPs members have saved considerable direct, and indirect costs through membership of a WARP
Example 1: How a Local Authority benefited from WARP membership
Local Authority members of a particular WARP use the same software application for assessing and managing housing benefit. One member downloaded an Microsoft security patch to cover a notified vulnerability and installed it. The patch was effective but adversely affected the software making it unusable. Local Authority personnel were unable to access housing benefit data and unable to do their jobs, resulting in loss of service to the citizen causing disruption and delays in payment. When the patch was removed the software operated normally again.
WARP members were immediately informed of the problem, thereby giving them an early warning, and again once the solution was identified.
The WARP provided an efficient, timely and structured way of notifying the right people in other Authorities and saved many days of wasted personnel time and loss of service to the citizen.
Example 2: How WARPs helped just in time
Product 'X' is a dynamic portal engine and website content management system. The software is written in the scripting language PHP. A WARP operator identified a website defacement on one of its member’s websites through the monitoring site “Zone H”. The attack effectively took advantage of a flaw in product 'X' content management system allowing the hacker to alter the configuration file and then remotely open existing files replacing them with text of their choice.
The WARP operator contacted the relevant member about the defacement on a Friday and the member worked with the developers of product 'X' over the weekend until a fix was available first thing Monday. Members were notified of the fix via the WARP’s Filtered Warning Application Software (FWA).
The WARP enabled the timely distribution of the fix for this particular vulnerability to be disseminated to other WARP members thereby removing the likelihood of defacement to other member websites and associated embarrassment and disruption of service.
Next step:Please follow the link if you would like to learn more about what the Press say about WARPs.