We’ve spoken before about the hidden dangers of digital dependency, but never has it been more clear than today, 19th July 2024. Chaos has ensued as Microsoft experiences a global outage, causing widespread disruption across multiple industries and sectors worldwide.
The outage has impacted millions of users and businesses relying on Microsoft’s cloud-based services, including major airlines, banks, IT firms, television networks, and transportation companies. Impacted services include:
- Laptops and systems not working properly
- Disruptions to flight operations and ground transportation
- Banking services being affected
- Television broadcasts being interrupted
- Inability to book NHS appointments
GLOBAL OUTAGES
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) July 19, 2024
- Major banks, media, airports and airlines affected by major IT outage
- Payment systems impacted in different parts of the world, including Australia and the UK.
- Australia's government calls for emergency meeting
- Significant disruption to some Microsoft…
"Frantic... is the word we're looking for"
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) July 19, 2024
Airlines are facing disruption across the world after Microsoft reported an outage, says Bloomberg's Benedikt Kammel
Latest: https://t.co/bl7wqewfnK pic.twitter.com/ydQBSJSyCh
While the exact number of people impacted remains unspecified, the scale of the outage is one of the worst in recent memory. A “buggy” update from cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike is confirmed to have caused thousands of PCs and servers worldwide to go offline and unable to reboot, causing “bedlam” for GP practices, airlines and many other organisations.
For businesses who have yet had the chance to recover from Azure going down the night before, it really has been the perfect storm.
The average cost of downtime per minute for small businesses is $427 and $9,000 for larger enterprises. When looked at hourly, this means a single hour of downtime costs small businesses roughly $25,620 and over half a million ($540,000) for enterprises. Unfortuntely, in this most recent example some businesses are potentially looking at days, not hours.
Luckily, this outage was caused be error, not attack. But the reality is, there will always be in impact when there is an outage in your digital supply chain, regardless of its source.
In light of these recent events, it’s critical for businesses to re-evaluate their digital resilience strategies. Here are some key actions to consider:
Conduct a Risk Assessment: Regularly evaluate your digital infrastructure to identify potential vulnerabilities. Understand the critical points in your supply chain and develop strategies to mitigate risks.
Develop a Comprehensive Incident Response Plan: Ensure that your incident response plan is detailed and up-to-date. It should outline specific steps to take in the event of an outage, including communication protocols and recovery procedures.
Invest in Redundancy: Implement redundant systems and backup solutions to ensure continuity of operations. This can include secondary data centres, cloud services from multiple providers, and offline backups.
Regular Training and Drills: Conduct regular training sessions and drills for your IT staff and employees. This helps ensure that everyone knows their role during an outage and can respond effectively.
Leverage Automation and AI: Use automation and AI-driven tools to monitor your systems continuously. These tools can help detect issues early and automate response actions to minimise downtime.
Establish Strong Vendor Relationships: Maintain open and proactive communication with your technology vendors. Understanding their update and maintenance schedules can help you prepare and mitigate potential disruptions.
Strengthen Cybersecurity Measures: Regularly update and audit your cybersecurity protocols. Ensure that all systems are patched and protected against known vulnerabilities.
The recent Microsoft 365 outage serves as a stark reminder of the importance of digital resilience. While technology has brought immense benefits, it also brings vulnerabilities that can disrupt entire industries. By implementing robust mitigation strategies and fostering a culture of preparedness, businesses can navigate these challenges more effectively.
As we continue to rely on digital systems, it’s crucial to learn from these incidents and strengthen our resilience. With proactive planning, continuous monitoring, and effective communication, we can build more robust and adaptable systems that are better equipped to handle the uncertainties of our digital world.
