21 July, 2024, USA
Microsoft announced that a faulty CrowdStrike update affected 8.5 million Windows systems. This is less than 1% of all Windows devices, but the impact was huge because many enterprises using CrowdStrike run critical services.
Microsoft said they are “working around the clock” to fix the issue. CrowdStrike is helping develop a scalable solution to accelerate the fix for Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure.
The update from CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, disrupted computer systems globally on Friday. It grounded around 1,400 flights and disrupted medical, banking, and local transport services in various cities, including the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
The situation was severe enough for the White House to brief President Joe Biden. US officials are working with private sector to find a quick solution.
Microsoft emphasized that while software updates can cause issues, significant incidents like this are rare. The event highlighted the interconnected nature of the global tech system, including cloud providers, software platforms, and security vendors.