'Spurious Data'

[Protagoras]

"The air traffic control outage that caused thousands of flights to be grounded across the UK earlier in the week was caused by a military aircraft entering “spurious” flight data into the system, according to a report."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...control-outage

Does this suggest that data can pass validation and then go on to cause problems when processed?
Isn't it surprising that the design allows for this?
Wouldn't you expect to find this during testing?

There's also mention of some problem with backups.

 

[ladymuck]

This sounds like the same problem that caused the previous meltdown.

 

[cojak]

It sounds like someone was just paying lip service to GRC there, and I don't mean the lowly pay grades either...

Is Agile still a thing because this cock-up sounds right up it's alley.

 

[sadkingbilly]

does it run on an ICL <fujitsu> still?
might explain a lot.

 

[Protagoras]

Oops, broken again!

Weekend upgrades anyone?

The absence of passenger compensation/ insurance payouts is going to be a problem for many. If this keeps up more holiday bookings will be for package holidays.

 

[cojak]

Who the feck is taking care of their Service Management? (No one competent apparently.)

 

[willendure]

They obviously never heard of "parse don't validate". Reject malformed data at the system boundary. FFS.

 

[courtg9000]

Who the feck is taking care of their Service Management? (No one competent apparently.)

CGI and BT have the IT contracts apparently. I dont know CGI but I have had experience of BT's IT outsourcing - painful is the word I would use! Only outfit I think I have seen that are worse than Crapita!

 

[Protagoras]

CGI and BT have the IT contracts apparently. I dont know CGI but I have had experience of BT's IT outsourcing - painful is the word I would use! Only outfit I think I have seen that are worse than Crapita!

What would anyone be comfortable outsourcing on a system like this?

For a control system I'd want to keep control of design, test and operations, maybe outsource some coding ... OTOH, outsourcing the billing system would probably be okay.

 

[courtg9000]

What would anyone be comfortable outsourcing on a system like this?

For a control system I'd want to keep control of design, test and operations, maybe outsource some coding ... OTOH, outsourcing the billing system would probably be okay.

Im not sure exactly what is outsourced. I just know from a quick google that CGI and BT have the contracts. BT for me is very scary, Crapita even worse. TCS however could give me sleepless nights.