An IT failure caused by a software update from CrowdStrike led to a global outage affecting airports, healthcare services, and businesses. The outage, described as the largest in history, resulted in flight cancellations, hospital appointments being postponed, and various businesses being unable to operate due to computers failing to start. The failure highlighted organizations’ lack of contingency plans and the need for better backup systems in case of such incidents.
The UK government, including the Cobra committee, and various industries were coordinating responses to tackle the fallout from the outage. Microsoft confirmed the issue was due to a third-party update and expected a resolution soon. CrowdStrike’s stock price plunged as a result of the incident.
Various services, including banking, gaming platforms, and media outlets globally, were affected by the outage, with some organizations warning of potential delays. Experts warned that recovery could take days or even weeks, particularly for organizations with a large number of affected PCs.
Airports worldwide experienced technical issues disrupting flights, and instances of manual check-ins were reported. Healthcare services, including GP practices and hospitals, also faced challenges accessing patient records and appointments. While 999 services were unaffected, some hospitals across countries had to cancel operations due to the outage.
Overall, the incident illustrated the vulnerability of organizations to IT failures and the importance of implementing robust backup and recovery plans to mitigate the impact of such widespread outages in the future.
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