Government launches security centres for businesses01 April 2005
Following on from the launch of the ITSafe site which alerts home users and small businesses of serious Internet security risks and issues, the government is now backing the creation of specialist centres called WARPs (Warning, advice and reporting points).
The centres, in an attempt to step up security measures against fraud, viruses, hackers and the like, enable businesses to swap confidential information about risks, security breaches and successful countermeasures, and to receive tailored security alerts. The scheme is part of the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre's (NISCC) information sharing strategy to help combat the increasing risk of electronic attack on our information systems. Six Warps have been created since the concept was introduced in 2003, but more are expected to follow during 2005, particularly in local government.
One of the ways you can become part of the government's drive to protect the UK's technology infrastructure is to be informed of the various initiatives listed below:
- ITSafe: A government run site where small businesses can sign up for virus and security alerts.
- WARPs: Warning advice and reporting points where businesses can share security information and network.
- CERTs: Computer Emergency Response Teams are specialist teams responsible for receiving and managing the response to computer security incidents for a defined community, such as a business, government department or an academic institute.
