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A Deep Dive Into Microsoft’s CrowdStrike Global IT Outage

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24 July 2024

On July 18th 2024, the digital world descended into chaos as Microsoft experienced a global IT outage. 

As one of the largest IT outages in history, thousands of businesses and institutions around the world were knocked offline. From airports to healthcare institutes to offices and railways, the Microsoft outage has led to widespread disruptions and delays across the world. 

Cyber-security firm CrowdStrike has admitted that the issue was caused by an update to its software. However, the impact of this seemingly small error has resulted in much frustration and massive headaches for IT departments on a global scale. 

In this article, we will be covering the Microsoft outage, what caused it and how it has affected the daily lives of thousands of people. 

Let’s begin!

Breaking Down the Microsoft Global IT Outage

On Thursday, Microsoft experienced a global outage due to an issue with CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor software, triggering the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ on many Windows PCs. 

The Microsoft Global IT outage is a major IT issue that caused massive disruption to transport, businesses, healthcare and various other sectors around the world. This dilemma has resulted in several flights being grounded or cancelled, with endless queues and delays at many airports. 

Many cybersecurity experts have taken to calling the CrowdStrike outage the ‘largest IT outage in history’ and compared it to the Y2K bug but with a much heavier and more damaging impact. 

The Blue Screen of Death

Many PC users are aware of the various error messages that can result in panic and frustration. However, those of us who have come face-to-face with the Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), understand the concern of users seeing it appear worldwide. 

The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) is an error message screen on Windows PCs that halts all operations to display an error message. This error occurs when your system encounters a major issue, leading to unexpected restarts and even potential data loss. 

More often than not, a BSoD is prompted by hardware or software issues, however, it is not the easiest thing to resolve. While CrowdStrike claims to have identified and fixed the disastrous update, many devices remain non-operational. 

What Caused the IT Outage?

The question on everyone’s mind is, what caused this disastrous tech catastrophe?

According to the president of CrowdStrike, George Kurtz, the global IT outage was caused by a “defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts”. He goes on to confirm that this is neither a security incident nor a cyberattack and reassures the public that the issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. 

While it may appear extreme that a piece of cybersecurity software was able to cause such widespread damage, it is important to remember that these products are deeply integrated into the inner workings of computer networks. This allows them complete access to all the inner workings of an IT system so they can operate it effectively and keep guard against any malicious attacks. 

What Is CrowdStrike?

CrowdStrike is a US cybersecurity firm based in Austin, Texas and its Falcon Sensor software is designed to protect IT systems from cyber-attacks. 

Similarly to many modern technology companies, CrowdStrike has not been around for very long. Founded a mere 13 years ago, it has grown to employ almost 8,500 people. 

However, in an almost ironic series of events, this time a firm that is normally part of the solution to IT problems, is instead the point of origin. 

The CrowdStrike outage serves as a reminder of the fragility of our modern digital infrastructure, demonstrating how a company that is not exactly a household name can be at the heart of a global tech crisis. This reinforces the importance of having data backups and several lines of defence to mitigate the impact for your business. 

Who Has Been Affected?

The Microsoft global IT outage had a widespread impact and affected various platforms such as Microsoft 365, Amazon Web Services, Azure and even social media platforms like Instagram and eBay. 

On a worldwide scale, airports and air travel were particularly badly hit with at least 1,400 flights being cancelled and several other flights being delayed. Similarly, many railway companies across the UK have reported delays and widespread IT issues.

Payment systems were also impacted forcing many shops to conduct cash-only transactions. London cabbies were left struggling to take card payments while supermarkets including Waitrose and Morrisons were unable to accept contactless payments. 

Healthcare was another sector that was badly affected with many GP practices facing trouble booking appointments, accessing patient records and viewing test results. Even broadcasters, including Sky News, were caught up in the technical chaos and spent several hours off air. 

As a result of the global IT outage, CrowdStrike’s shares are reportedly down by more than 20% in pre-marketing trading, equalling a loss of over £12.3bn in value. 

Many cybersecurity experts believe that although a software fix is now available, it will take a huge amount of work to get all computer devices up and running again. 

Despite the serious nature of this international predicament, users took to social media to joke about the early weekend arrival. With the hashtag #MicrosoftOutage trending, many shared memes and humorous takes on the situation. One user joked, “Looks like the weekend started early thanks to Microsoft!”

Contact Redpalm For Comprehensive IT Security Services! 

While the Microsoft global IT outage may have occurred due to an error on the part of a cybersecurity firm, cybersecurity services are still a necessity if you wish to protect your networks from cyber-attacks and data breaches. 

Redpalm is an MSP that provides professional IT support paired with the latest cybersecurity solutions to safeguard your IT systems. With years of knowledge and expertise, our team of IT experts are well-equipped to identify and mitigate any risks on an immediate basis. 

We also offer services like vulnerability assessments, technology procurement, incident response, IT audits and health checks and so much more!

To learn more about our services, click here or contact us to schedule an appointment today!

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