A global tech outage related to a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected nearly 8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices, Microsoft announced in a blog post on Saturday.
The update, implemented by one of the industry’s largest operators, caused widespread disruptions, grounding flights, forcing broadcasters off-air, and leaving customers without access to essential services such as healthcare and banking.
“We estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines,” Microsoft stated in its blog. Despite the small percentage, the broad economic and societal impacts underscore the critical role CrowdStrike plays in enterprises running essential services.
CrowdStrike has collaborated on a solution to help accelerate the fix for Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure. Microsoft is also working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform, sharing information on the outage’s industry-wide effects.
What Microsoft said
Microsoft, in a blog post, said CrowdStrike, an independent cybersecurity company, released a software update that has significantly impacted IT systems globally. Although Microsoft was not directly involved, the disruption has affected the broader ecosystem, prompting Microsoft to take immediate action to support affected customers.
Incident Overview:
CrowdStrike’s software update has caused disruptions, impacting approximately 8.5 million Windows devices worldwide.
Microsoft has been actively engaging with CrowdStrike and external developers to collect information and expedite solutions.
Actions Taken:
Collaboration with CrowdStrike:
Engaging with CrowdStrike to automate the development of a solution.
CrowdStrike has issued a workaround and a public statement.
Remediation instructions for Windows endpoints have been posted on the Windows Message Center.
Deployment of Resources:
Hundreds of Microsoft engineers and experts have been deployed to assist customers in restoring services.
Customer Support and Communication:
Manual remediation documentation and scripts have been quickly posted online.
Continuous updates are being provided through the Azure Status Dashboard.
Collaborative Efforts:
CrowdStrike has developed a scalable solution to help accelerate the fix for Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure.
Microsoft, AWS, and GCP are collaborating on effective approaches to address the issue.
Impact and Reflection:
The incident, affecting less than one percent of all Windows machines, highlights the interconnected nature of the tech ecosystem.
It underscores the importance of safe deployment practices and disaster recovery mechanisms.
The cooperative efforts within the tech sector have been crucial in addressing and mitigating the impact of the incident.
Microsoft acknowledges the disruption caused and appreciates the collaboration across the sector. Continuous updates and support will be provided as the situation evolves.
