Global Tech Outage: Microsoft Rushes to Aid After Cyber Security Incident

Microsoft has dispatched hundreds of engineers to help customers restore services following an outage caused by a CrowdStrike update. The incident affected 8.5 million devices worldwide, grounding airlines in India and disrupting multiple business operations. Microsoft is collaborating with other cloud providers to address the situation and ensure safe deployment practices.

US software giant Microsoft has deployed hundreds of engineers and experts to restore customer services following a global outage triggered by its cybersecurity partner, CrowdStrike, the company disclosed in a blog post.

The outage on July 18 affected 8.5 million devices worldwide, disrupting point-of-sale systems and grounding airlines in India. Microsoft reported in a July 20 blog post that the outage substantially impacted businesses and operations globally.

Indian airlines, including IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa, experienced significant operational disruptions, forcing a switch to manual check-in and boarding processes. Many users reported issues on Downdetector and shared their frustrations on social media platforms.

Microsoft is collaborating with other cloud providers such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to share awareness and provide ongoing support to affected customers.

Microsoft emphasized the interconnected nature of the global technology ecosystem and the importance of safe deployment practices. The company noted that while software updates may occasionally cause disruptions, significant incidents like this are rare.

(With inputs from agencies.)