TF Update (1300 CEST): CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz stated that the IT issue causing a global outage has been identified. Crowdstrike deployed a fix. Kurtz further stated that cybersecurity company is working with “customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts” and that the issue was “not a security incident or cyberattack.”
TF Update: This story is ongoing and developments will be reported as they are confirmed.
On Friday, a major IT outage is causing extensive disruptions worldwide that is impacting businesses, banks, airlines, and emergency services. The outage is being traced back to an update from cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike, affecting millions of Microsoft Windows devices globally.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Global Impact
The CrowdStrike update led to forced restarts and crashes of Windows computers and tablets in the U.S., China, and Australia, among other countries. Social media buzzed with reports of the issue, which also appeared to affect various Microsoft 365 apps and services.
Business and Financial Sector
Multiple financial institutions, including multinational banks, faced blue-screen errors. The London Stock Exchange’s news service, RNS, was down, preventing the publication of market-moving announcements. This disruption indicates the vulnerability of financial systems to IT issues.
Airline Industry Chaos
The Federal Aviation Administration issued ground-stop orders for major airlines including Delta, United, and American Airlines. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines suspended most operations, and Ryanair advised passengers to arrive three hours before departure. Sydney Airport in Australia and London Gatwick were also severely affected, causing delays in check-in and security procedures.
Disruptions & Challenges
Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport halted operations temporarily, while Frontier Airlines in the U.S. canceled some flights. The outage even affected news broadcasting, with Sky News unable to broadcast live television.
The issue originated from an error message related to CrowdStrike on affected devices. A workaround aimed at deleting a CrowdStrike file was implemented, but not before causing widespread disruptions. Microsoft’s initial response attributed the problems to its 365 apps and services, prompting thousands of users to report issues on Downdetector.com.
TF Summary: What’s Next
This far-reaching outage underscores the critical importance of robust IT infrastructure and prompt response strategies. Businesses and services globally need to ensure they have contingency plans to mitigate such disruptions. Coordination between cybersecurity firms, big tech, and governmental watchdogs is necessary to prevent similar occurrences.
Providers must offer regular updates and transparent communication with users that creates awareness, maintains trust, and minimizes operational impacts from incidents of this nature.